Foldable device

ABSTRACT

A foldable device includes first and second bodies that respectively support a first part and a second part of a flexible display device and are foldably connected to each other between a folded position and an unfolded position, and a movable support member that continuously near-supports a third part of the flexible display device between the first part and the second part when the first body and the second body change from the folded position to the unfolded position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser.No. 16/542,889, filed on Aug. 16, 2019, which is a ContinuationApplication of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/138,325, filed on Sep. 21,2018, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,423,196, issued on Sep. 24, 2019, which is aContinuation Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/676,234, filedon Aug. 14, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,120,415, issued on Nov. 6, 2018,which is a Divisional Application of U.S. application Ser. No.14/627,694, filed on Feb. 20, 2015, in the U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,798,359, issued on Oct. 24, 2017, whichclaims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0127191,filed on Sep. 23, 2014, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, andKorean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0020749, filed on Feb. 21, 2014,in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosures of which areherein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Apparatuses and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate toa foldable device including a flexible display device.

2. Description of the Related Art

A portable foldable device (hereinafter, referred to as a mobile device)such as a communication terminal, a game player, a multimedia device, aportable computer, a personal digital assistant, a photographingapparatus, etc., includes a display device that displays imageinformation and an input unit such as a keypad. Many mobile devicesinclude a foldable structure that may fold into a smaller size in orderto improve portability. In such mobile devices, two bodies are connectedto each other by using the foldable structure. Since a related artdisplay device may not fold, the related art display device may bedisposed on one of the two bodies. Hence, it is difficult to apply alarge display device to a mobile device including a foldable structure.

As a flexible display device that may be bent develops, attempts havebeen made to apply the flexible display device to a mobile deviceincluding a foldable structure. In this case, since the flexible displaydevice may be disposed over two bodies to cross the foldable structure,a large screen may be provided. However, although the flexible displaydevice may be bent, if the flexible display device is sharply bent, theflexible display device itself may be damaged. Hence, a curved portionhaving a predetermined curvature is formed at the center of the flexibledisplay device when the flexible display device folds. When the flexibledisplay device folds for a long time and then unfolds, the curvedportion may not be spread flat.

SUMMARY

Aspects of one or more exemplary embodiments provide a foldable deviceincluding a flexible display device that may be spread flat in anunfolded state.

Aspects of one or more exemplary embodiments include a foldable devicethat may be maintained at a predetermined unfolding angle.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description whichfollows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may belearned by practice of exemplary embodiments.

According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, there is provided afoldable device including: a flexible display device including a firstpart, a second part, and a third part between the first part and thesecond part; a first body and a second body that respectively supportthe first part and the second part and are foldably connected to eachother between a folded position and an unfolded position; and a movablesupport member configured to continuously support the third part whenthe first body and the second body change from the folded position tothe unfolded position.

When the first body and the second body change between the unfoldedposition and the folded position, the movable support member may beconfigured to move between a support position that supports the thirdpart of the flexible display device and a retreat position that retreatsfrom the support position in order to receive a curved portion formed inthe third part.

The first body and the second body may respectively include a firstsupport and a second support that respectively support the first partand the second part of the flexible display device, and a first receiverand a second receiver that respectively retreat from the first supportand the second support.

When the movable support member is located at the retreat position, thethird part may be received in a receiving space defined by the firstreceiver, the second receiver, and the movable support member.

The movable support member may include slots that extend in afolding/unfolding direction of the first body and the second body; apair of guide portions that are insertable into the slots may beprovided on the first body and the second body to face each other; andwhen the first body and the second body move between the folded positionand the unfolded position, the pair of guide portions may slide in theslots so that the movable support member moves between the supportposition and the retreat position.

The first body and the second body may respectively include a firstsupport and a second support that respectively support the first partand the second part of the flexible display device, and a first receiverand a second receiver that are respectively provided in the firstsupport and the second support to move between a first position thatsupports the third part of the flexible display device and a secondposition that receives the curved portion.

The first receiver and the second receiver may be configured to movebetween the first position and the second position as the movablesupport member moves between the support position and the retreatposition.

The foldable device may further include a first pivot lever and a secondpivot lever having first ends that are pivotably connected to themovable support member and second ends that are connected to the firstreceiver and the second receiver, wherein the first pivot lever and thesecond pivot lever may move the first receiver and the second receiverto the first position when the movable support member moves to thesupport position, and allow the first receiver and the second receiverto be pushed by the flexible display device to move to the secondposition when the movable support member moves to the retreat position.

The foldable device may further include stoppers that, when the firstreceiver and the second receiver reach the first position, support thefirst pivot lever and the second pivot lever so that the first receiverand the second receiver are not separated from the flexible displaydevice.

The foldable device may further include an elastic unit configured toapply a tensile force to the flexible display device at the unfoldedposition.

The elastic unit may be configured to apply an elastic force to thefirst body and the second body so that the first body and the secondbody unfold at the unfolded position.

The elastic unit may apply the elastic force to the first body and thesecond body so that the first body and the second body are maintained atthe unfolded position.

The elastic unit may include: a facing arm provided on the second bodyand including a facing portion; and an elastic arm provided on the firstbody, configured to contact the facing arm to be elastically deformedwhen the first body and the second body change between the foldedposition and the unfolded position, and including a first contactportion that may be configured to elastically contact the facing portionat the unfolded position.

The elastic arm may further include a second contact portion that isinclined with respect to the first contact portion; and the secondcontact potion may be configured to elastically contact the facingportion at a predetermined unfolding angle between the folded positionand the unfolded position.

The first contact portion and the second contact portion have planarshapes, and the facing portion may have a planar shape and maysurface-contact the first contact portion and the second contactportion.

The elastic arm may include a boundary portion that projects most, fromthe elastic arm, toward the second body; and the first contact portionand the second contact portion may have curved shapes and may bedistinguished from each other by the boundary portion.

The first body and the second body may respectively include a first basecover and a second base cover that define an outer appearance, and afirst frame and a second frame that are respectively disposed in thefirst base cover and the second base cover and respectively support thefirst part and the second part of the flexible display device; and theelastic arm may be integrally formed with the first frame and the facingarm may be integrally formed with the second frame.

The elastic arm may have a leaf spring shape and may be coupled to thefirst body.

The facing arm may contact the elastic arm to be elastically deformedwhen the first body and the second body change between the foldedposition and the unfolded position.

The facing arm may have a leaf spring shape and may be coupled to thesecond body.

The foldable device may further include: a magnetic member in the firstbody; and an attachment member in the second body, wherein the magneticmember and the attachment member may be configured to attach to eachother due to a magnetic force when the first body and the second bodyare in the folded position.

The magnetic member may include a permanent magnet and a magneticshielding member that surrounds surfaces of the permanent magnet otherthan a surface that faces the attachment member.

The foldable device may further include a cover member that coversadjacent edges of the first body and the second body.

At least one of the first part and the second part of the flexibledisplay device may be supported on at least one of the first body andthe second body to move in a longitudinal direction.

The first body and the second body may be configured to pivot about afirst central axis and a second central axis that are spaced apart fromeach other and are foldably connected to each other between the foldedposition and the unfolded position.

The foldable device may further include a first gear and a second gearthat engage with each other are respectively provided along the firstcentral axis and the second central axis.

According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there isprovided a foldable device including: a flexible display deviceincluding a first part, a second part, and a third part between thefirst part and the second part; a first body and a second body thatrespectively support the first part and the second part and are foldablyconnected to each other between a folded position and an unfoldedposition; and an elastic unit configured to apply a tensile force to theflexible display device at the unfolded position.

The foldable device may further include a first gear and a second gearthat engage with each other and are respectively provided along a firstcentral axis and a second central axis, wherein the first body and thesecond body may synchronously pivot about the first central axis and thesecond central axis, and wherein the first central axis and the secondcentral axis may be spaced apart from each other.

The foldable device may further include a movable support memberconfigured to continuously supports the third part when the first bodyand the second body change from the folded position to the unfoldedposition.

As the first body and the second body change between the folded and tothe unfolded position, the movable support member may be configured tomove between a support position that supports the third part of theflexible display device and a retreat position that retreats from thesupport position in order to receive a curved portion formed in thethird part.

The movable support member may include slots that extend in afolding/unfolding direction of the first body and the second body; apair of guide portions that are insertable into the slots may beprovided on the first body and the second body to face each other; andwhen the first body and the second body move between the folded positionand the unfolded position, the pair of guide portions may slide in theslots so that the movable support member moves between the supportposition and the retreat position.

The elastic unit may be configured to apply an elastic force to thefirst body and the second body so that the first body and the secondbody unfold at the unfolded position.

When the first body and the second body change between the unfoldedposition and the folded position, a direction of the elastic force maychange from a direction obstructing position change of the first bodyand the second body to a direction allowing position change of the firstbody and the second body.

The elastic unit may include: a facing arm provided on the second bodyand including a facing portion; and an elastic arm on the first body,configured to contact the facing arm to be elastically deformed when thefirst body and the second body change between the folded position andthe unfolded position, and including a first contact portion that may beconfigured to elastically contact the facing portion at the unfoldedposition and a second contact portion that is inclined with respect tothe first contact portion and elastically contacts the facing portion ata predetermined unfolding angle between the folded position and theunfolded position.

The first contact portion and the second contact portion may have planarshapes; and the facing portion may have a planar shape and maysurface-contact the first contact portion and the second contactportion.

The elastic arm further may include a boundary portion that projectsmost, from the elastic arm, toward the second body; and the firstcontact portion and the second contact portion may have curved shapesand may be distinguished from each other by the boundary portion.

The elastic arm may have a leaf spring shape and may be coupled to thefirst body.

The facing arm may have a leaf spring shape, and may be configured tocontact the elastic arm to be elastically deformed when the first bodyand the second body change between the folded position and the unfoldedposition.

According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, there isprovided a foldable device including: a flexible display deviceincluding a first part, a second part, and a third part between thefirst part and the second part; a body including a first body and asecond body that respectively support the first part and the second partand are foldably connected to each other between a folded position andan unfolded position; a hinge between the first body and the second bodyfoldably connecting the first body and the second body; and a flexibleguide member on the body and crossing the hinge, and configured toelastically bend to reduce a stress applied to the flexible displaydevice when the first body and the second body change from the foldedposition to the unfolded position.

The flexible guide member may be between neutral surfaces of theflexible display device and the hinge.

The hinge may be connected to at least one of the first body and thesecond body to move relative to the at least one of the first body andthe second body; and the flexible guide member may be connected to atleast one of the first body and the second body to move relative to theat least one of the first body and the second body.

The flexible guide member and the hinge may be connected to the body tosatisfy ΔL2/ΔL3=C2, where C2 is a constant and ΔL2 and ΔL3 arerespectively amounts of movement of the flexible guide member and thehinge relative to the body when the first body and the second bodychange from the folded position to the unfolded position.

The flexible guide member and the hinge may be connected to the body tosatisfy d22=d13−d12=C1, where C1 is a constant, C2 is a constant, NS1 isa neutral surface of the flexible display device, NS2 is a neutralsurface of the flexible guide member, NS3 is a neutral surface of thehinge, and d12, d23, and d13 are respectively distances between theneutral surface NS1 and the neutral surface NS2, between the neutralsurface NS2 and the neutral surface NS3, and between the neutral surfaceNS1 and the neutral surface NS3.

The foldable device may further include a movement amount controllerconfigured to connect the hinge and the flexible guide member to thebody so that a ratio of an amount of movement of the hinge and an amountof movement of the flexible guide member relative to the body isconstant.

The movement amount controller may include: a first lever that pivotsabout a shaft provided on the hinge and may include a first post, afirst slot in the body and into which the first post is inserted, asecond lever coupled to the first post, pivots along with the firstlever, and may include a second post, and a second slot in the flexibleguide member and into which the second post is inserted, wherein adistance between the shaft and the first post may be greater than adistance between the first post and the second post.

The movement amount controller may be configured to satisfyd12/d13=RA2/RA1, where a distance between the shaft and the first postis RA1, a distance between the first post and the second post is RA2, adistance between the neutral surface of the flexible display device andthe neutral surface of the flexible guide member is d12, and a distancebetween the neutral surface of the flexible display device and theneutral surface of the hinge is d13.

The hinge may be connected to the first body and the second body to moverelative to the first body and the second body, and the flexible guidemember may be connected to the first body and the second body to moverelative to the first body and the second body.

The hinge may be connected to the first body and the second body to moverelative to the first body and the second body.

The hinge may be configured to move in a symmetric matter relative tothe first body and the second body.

The hinge may include a first connection portion and a second connectionportion that are respectively connected to the first body and the secondbody; the flexible guide member may include a first guide member and asecond guide member that are spaced apart from each other in a widthdirection perpendicular to a folding/unfolding direction; an end portionof the first guide member may be fixed to the first body and another endportion of the first guide member may be connected to the secondconnection portion to move relative to the second body along with thehinge; and an end portion of the second guide member may be fixed to thesecond body and another end portion of the second guide member may beconnected to the first connection portion to move relative to the firstbody along with the hinge.

The flexible guide member may be configured to satisfy d12=d23, where adistance between a neutral surface of the flexible display device and aneutral surface of the first guide member and the second guide member isd12, and a distance between the neutral surface of the first guidemember and the second guide member and a neutral surface of the hinge isd23.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readilyappreciated from the following description of exemplary embodiments,taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an outer appearance of afoldable device according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating a state where the foldable device ofFIG. 1 unfolds, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a side view illustrating a state where the foldable device ofFIG. 1 folds, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a flexible display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the foldable deviceof FIG. 1, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a detailed perspective view illustrating a portion “A” of FIG.5, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B′ of FIG. 6,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8A is a side view illustrating a gear connection structure that isa modification of a structure for foldably connecting first and secondbodies;

FIG. 8B is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating the gearconnection structure of FIG. 8A, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8C is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating the gearconnection structure of FIG. 8A, according to another exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 8D is a side view illustrating a state where the first body and thesecond body are misaligned with each other in an unfolded state;

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a modification of ahinge unit for foldably connecting the first body and the second body;

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating anothermodification of the hinge unit for foldably connecting the first bodyand the second body;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the first bodyand the second body slightly fold at the unfolded position due toelasticity of a curved portion of the flexible display device, accordingto an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C′ of FIG. 5,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the first bodyand the second body are stopped at a predetermined unfolding angle,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 14A is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the firstbody and the second body are in the folded position, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIG. 14B is a cross-sectional view illustrating an initial state wherethe first body and the second body begin to unfold and an elastic armcontacts a facing arm, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 14C is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the firstbody and the second body are maintained at the predetermined unfoldingangle, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 14D is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the firstbody and the second body completely unfold, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the elastic unitaccording to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the elastic unitaccording to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the elastic unitaccording to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 18A is a cross-sectional view illustrating an initial state wherethe first body and the second body begin to unfold and the elastic armcontacts the facing arm, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 18B is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the firstbody and the second body are maintained at the predetermined unfoldingangle, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 18C is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state where the firstbody and the second body completely unfold, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a structure formoving a movable support member between a support position and a retreatposition, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 20A is a cross-sectional view taken along line F-F′ of FIG. 19,illustrating a state where the movable support member is located at thesupport position, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 20B is a cross-sectional view taken along line F-F′ of FIG. 19,illustrating a state where the movable support member is located betweenthe support position and the retreat position, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 20C is a cross-sectional view taken along line F-F′ of FIG. 19,illustrating a state where the movable support member is located at theretreat position, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 21A is a side view of the foldable device, illustrating a statewhere the first body and the second body are in the folded position,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 21B is a side view of the foldable device, illustrating a statewhere the first body and the second body are located at the unfoldedposition, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 22 is a side view illustrating the foldable device according toanother exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along line H-H′ of FIG. 22,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 24 is a side view illustrating the foldable device according toanother exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a magnetic memberaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 26 is a perspective view illustrating an outer appearance of afoldable device according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 27 is a side view illustrating a state where the foldable device ofFIG. 26 unfolds, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 28 is a side view illustrating a state where the foldable device ofFIG. 26 folds, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the foldable deviceaccording to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 30 is a schematic view illustrating the sliding amounts of a hingeunit and a guide member when the first body and the second body in anunfolded state begin to fold to have a predetermined unfolding angle,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 31 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the foldable deviceaccording to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view illustrating the hinge unit according toan exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 33 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a connectionrelationship between a plurality of segment members, according to anexemplary embodiment;

FIGS. 34A and 34B are side views respectively illustrating states wherethe hinge unit unfolds and folds, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 35 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a connectionrelationship between the hinge unit and the guide member and the firstbody and the second body, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X1-X1′ of FIG. 32,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 37 is a view for explaining an operation of a first lever when thefoldable device folds at the unfolding angle, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connection relationshipbetween the first lever and a second lever, according to an exemplaryembodiment;

FIGS. 39A and 39B are views for explaining an operation of the secondlever when the hinge unit slides, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 40 is a side view illustrating a state where the first body and thesecond body have a predetermined unfolding angle between the unfoldedstate and the folded state, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 41 is a perspective view illustrating a locking rail memberaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 42 is a perspective view illustrating the locking rail memberaccording to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 43 is a plan view illustrating a connection relationship betweenthe guide member and the hinge unit and the first body and the secondbody, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 44A is a side view illustrating a connection relationship between afirst guide member and the first body and the second body and the hingeunit, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 44B is a side view illustrating a connection relationship between asecond guide member and the first body and the second body and the hingeunit, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 45 is a schematic view illustrating the sliding amounts of thefirst and second guide members and the hinge unit when the first bodyand the second body in an unfolded state begin to fold to have thepredetermined unfolding angle in a connection structure of FIG. 43,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 46 is a perspective view illustrating a front surface of a mobileterminal device, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 47 is a perspective view illustrating a rear surface of the mobileterminal device, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 48 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the mobile terminaldevice according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 49 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a flexible display deviceof FIG. 48, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 50 is a cross-sectional view of the mobile terminal device takenalong line V-V of FIG. 46, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 51 is an enlarged view illustrating a first locking portion in aportion VI of FIG. 46, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 52 is an enlarged view illustrating a second locking portion in aportion VII of FIG. 46, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 53 is an enlarged view illustrating a state where the first andsecond locking portions of FIG. 46 are coupled to each other due to amagnetic force, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 54 is a perspective view illustrating a flexible hinge of FIG. 48,according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 55 is an enlarged view illustrating a part of the flexible hinge ina portion X of FIG. 50, according to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 56 is a side view illustrating a state where the mobile terminaldevice folds, according to an exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 57 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a state wherethe flexible hinge in a portion XII of FIG. 56 is bent, according to anexemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments, examplesof which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein likereference numerals denote like elements throughout and sizes orthicknesses of elements may be exaggerated for clarity.

As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items. Expressions such as “atleast one of,” when preceding a list of elements, modify the entire listof elements and do not modify the individual elements of the list.

First Exemplary Embodiment

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an outer appearance of afoldable device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 2 is aside view illustrating a state where the foldable device 100 of FIG. 1unfolds, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 3 is a side viewillustrating a state where the foldable device 100 of FIG. 1 folds,according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 1 through 3, the foldable device 100 includes a firstbody 1, a second body 2, and a flexible display device 4. The first body1 and the second body 2 are connected to each other to change between anunfolded position (or flat position or open position) of FIG. 2 and afolded position of FIG. 3.

The flexible display device 4 is supported by the first body 1 and thesecond body 2. The flexible display device 4 may be divided into a firstpart 4 a that is supported by the first body 1, a second part 4 b thatis supported by the second body 2, and a third part 4 c between thefirst body 1 and the second body 2. For example, the flexible displaydevice 4 may be adhered to the first body 1 and the second body 2 byusing an adhesive unit such as an adhesive or a double-sided tape. Thethird part 4 c of the flexible display device 4 may not be supported bythe first body 1 or the second body 2. That is, the third part 4 c isnot adhered to the first body 1 and the second body 2. When the firstbody 1 and the second body 2 are in the folded position of FIG. 3, thethird part 4 c forms a curved portion 4 d having a predetermined radiusof curvature. Accordingly, since the flexible display device 4 may notbe sharply bent and the third part 4 c is bent by forming the curvedportion 4 d or is spread, the first body 1 and the second body 2 maychange between the folded position and the unfolded position.

The foldable device 100 may be a portable mobile device such as acommunication terminal, a game player, a multimedia device, a portablecomputer, a persona digital assistance, a photographing apparatus, etc.However, it is understood that one or more other exemplary embodimentsare not limited thereto, and the foldable device 100 may be any deviceincluding the first body 1 that supports the first part 4 a of theflexible display device 4 and the second body 2 that supports the secondpart 4 b of the flexible display device 4 and is foldably connected tothe first body 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the flexible displaydevice 4 according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 4, theflexible display device 4 may include a flexible display panel 41 thatdisplays an image and a transparent protective panel 43 that is disposedoutside the flexible display panel 41. The flexible display panel 41 maybe, for example, an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) panel. When theflexible display panel 41 is an OLED panel, an organic emission layermay be disposed between an upper substrate and a lower substrate. Apolarization plate may be disposed on the upper substrate from whichlight is emitted. Also, the flexible display device 4 may furtherinclude a touch panel 42 as an input unit (e.g., inputter or inputdevice). The touch panel 42 may be disposed between the transparentprotective panel 43 and the flexible display panel 41. The flexibledisplay panel 41, the touch panel 42, and the transparent protectivepanel 43 may be adhered to one another by using an optically-clearadhesive (OCA) layer. However, it is understood that one or more otherexemplary embodiments are not limited thereto, and the flexible displaydevice 4 may further include any of various other optical panels oroptical films.

A processing unit (e.g., processor) and an input/output unit (e.g.,input/output device) for performing operations according to the use ofthe foldable device 100 may be provided on the first body 1 and thesecond body 2. When the foldable device 100 is a multimedia terminalthat provides images and music to a user, the processing unit mayinclude an image/audio information processing unit (e.g., image/audioinformation processor). When the foldable device 100 is a communicationterminal, the processing unit may include a communication module (e.g.,communicator). The input/output unit may include an image/audioinput/output unit (e.g., image/audio input/output device) and amanipulation unit (e.g., manipulator or manipulation device) for usermanipulation. The manipulation unit may be realized by using the touchpanel 42 of the flexible display device 4.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the foldable device100 of FIG. 1, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 6 is adetailed perspective view illustrating a portion “A” of FIG. 5,according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional viewtaken along line B-B′ of FIG. 6, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 5, the first body 1 includes a first base cover 11 anda first frame 12. The first base cover 11 defines an outer appearance ofthe first body 1. The first frame 12 is received or accommodated in thefirst base cover 11. The first frame 12 includes a first support 121that supports the first part 4 a of the flexible display device 4 and afirst receiver 122 that is inclined downward from the first support 121.The first receiver 122 corresponds to the third part 4 c of the flexibledisplay device 4. The second body 2 includes a second base cover 21 anda second frame 22. The second base cover 21 defines an outer appearanceof the second body 2. The second frame 22 is received or accommodated inthe second base cover 21. The second frame 22 includes a second support221 that supports the second part 4 b of the flexible display device 4and a second receiver 222 that is inclined downward from the secondsupport 221. The second receiver 222 corresponds to the third part 4 cof the flexible display device 4.

The first receiver 122 and the second receiver 222 face each other whenthe first body 1 and the second body 2 are in the folded position ofFIG. 3, to form a receiving space in which the curved portion 4 d isreceived. To this end, the first receiver 122 and the second receiver222 are respectively inclined downward from the first support 121 andthe second support 221 to be far from the third part 4 c of the flexibledisplay device 4. When the first body 1 and the second body 2 begin tochange from the unfolded position to the folded position, the third part4 c of the flexible display device 4 tends to be slightly bent downward.Since the first receiver 122 and the second receiver 222 are inclineddownward from the first support 121 and the second support 221, thethird part 4 c of the flexible display device 4 may be naturally bentdownward. Accordingly, a stress applied to the flexible display device 4when the first body 1 and the second body 2 change from the unfoldedposition to the folded position may be reduced and the risk of damage tothe flexible display device 4 may be reduced. If the first support 121and the second support 221 extend to the first receiver 122 and thesecond receiver 222, the third part 4 c of the flexible display device 4may be bent upward, instead of downward, thereby increasing the risk ofdamage to the third part 4 c of the flexible display device 4.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a hinge unit 3 (e.g., hinge) foldablyconnects the first body 1 and the second body 2. In the foldable device100 of the present exemplary embodiment, the first body 1 and the secondbody 2 respectively pivot about two central axes 30-1 and 30-2 that arespaced apart from each other. The hinge unit 3 may include a connectionbracket 31 in which one pair of first connection holes 32-1 and 32-2 areformed, and one pair of hinge members 34-1 and 34-2 that pass throughsecond connection holes 33-1 and 33-2 respectively formed in the firstbody 1 and the second body 2 and are inserted into the one pair of firstconnection holes 32-1 and 32-2. The second connection holes 33-1 and33-2 may be respectively formed in both side walls 12 a and 22 a of thefirst frame 12 and the second frames 22 or both side walls 11 a and 21 aof the first base cover 11 and the second base cover 21.

Referring to FIG. 7, each of the hinge members 34-1 and 34-2 includes aninsertion portion 34 a that has a cylindrical shape and is inserted intoeach of the second connection holes 33-1 and 33-2 and each of the firstconnection holes 32-1 and 32-2, and a step portion 34 b that has agreater outer diameter than that of the insertion portion 34 a. Theinsertion portions 34 a provide the central axes 30-1 and 30-2 aboutwhich the first body 1 and the second body 2 pivot. The step portions 34b are supported in the first body 1 and the second body 2. Screw holes34 c are axially formed in the insertion portions 34 a, respectively. Ina state where the insertion portions 34 a of the hinge members 34-1 and34-2 pass through the second connection holes 33-1 and 33-2 and areinserted into the first connection holes 32-1 and 32-2, screws S areinserted into the screw holes 34 c from the opposite side of the stepportion 34 b. Accordingly, the first body 1 and the second body 2 may becoupled to the connection bracket 31 so that the first body 1 and thesecond body 2 may pivot about the insertion portions 34 a of the hingemembers 34-1 and 34-2. In this configuration, the first body 1 and thesecond body 2 may be connected to each other to change between theunfolded position of FIG. 2 and the folded position of FIG. 3.

Referring back to FIGS. 5 and 6, a cover member 5 surrounds a connectingportion between the first body 1 and the second body 2 to prevent theinside of the foldable device 100 from being exposed to the outside. Forexample, the cover member 5 may include an extending portion 51 thatextends along facing edges 13 and 23 of the first body 1 and the secondbody 2 and side walls 52 that are located on both ends of the extendingportion 51. Recesses 53 that are sunken from inner surfaces of the sidewalls 52 are formed (e.g., provided) in the inner surfaces of the sidewalls 52. The recesses 53 are shaped so that the connection bracket 31may be inserted into each of the recesses 53. The cover member 5 may becoupled to the first body 1 and the second body 2 by slightly wideningoutward the side walls 52 and inserting the connection bracket 31 intothe recesses 53. When the first body 1 and the second body 2 are in thefolded position, the facing edges 13 and 23 of the first body 1 and thesecond body 2 may be spaced apart from each other, and the inside of thefoldable device 100 may be exposed through a space between the facingedges 13 and 23 that are spaced apart from each other. The cover member5 covers the space between the facing edges 13 and 23 in order toprevent the inside of the foldable device 100 from being exposed.Accordingly, the outer appearance of the foldable device 100 may beimproved (e.g., aesthetically improved).

Referring back to FIG. 2, when the first body 1 and the second body 2unfold, a bottom surface 5 a of the cover member 5 does not projectbeyond bottom surfaces 1 a and 2 a of the first body 1 and the secondbody 2. That is, the bottom surface 5 a of the cover member 5 is moreinwardly curved than the bottom surfaces 1 a and 2 a of the first body 1and the second body 2. If the bottom surface 5 a of the cover member 5projects beyond the bottom surfaces 1 a and 2 a of the first body 1 andthe second body 2, the foldable device 100 may unstably move like aseesaw by using the bottom surface 5 a of the cover member 5 as asupport point. In the configuration of FIG. 2, when the first body 1 andthe second body 2 unfold, the bottom surfaces 1 a and 2 a of the firstbody 1 and the second body 2 may be simultaneously stably supported on,for example, a table.

Referring to FIG. 3, thicknesses of connecting portions of the firstbody 1 and the second body 2 that are close to the hinge unit 3 are lessthan those of the opposite portions. That is, thicknesses of the firstbody 1 and the second body 2 decrease toward the hinge unit 3. In thisconfiguration, a structure in which the bottom surface 5 a of the covermember 5 does not project beyond the bottom surfaces la and 2 a of thefirst body 1 and the second body 2 may be easily formed (e.g.,provided).

It is understood that a structure for foldably connecting the first body1 and the second body 2 is not limited to a structure of FIGS. 6 and 7in one or more other exemplary embodiments. FIG. 8A is a side viewillustrating a gear connection structure that is a modification of astructure for foldably connecting the first body 1 and the second body2. FIG. 8B is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating the gearconnection structure of FIG. 8A, according to an exemplary embodiment.FIG. 8C is a partial exploded perspective view illustrating the gearconnection structure of FIG. 8A, according to another exemplaryembodiment. FIG. 8D is a side view illustrating a state where the firstbody 1 and the second body 2 are misaligned with each other in anunfolded state. The gear connection structure of FIGS. 8A through 8C maybe obtained by adding gears to the structure of FIG. 6.

Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, a first gear 35-1 and a second gear 35-2that engage with each other are respectively provided on the first body1 and the second body 2. Centers of the first gear 35-1 and the secondgear 35-2 respectively correspond to centers of the second connectionholes 33-1 and 33-2. In the present exemplary embodiment, the first gear35-1 and the second gear 35-2 are formed on the both side walls 11 a and21 a of the first base cover 11 and the second base cover 21,respectively. Alternatively, the first gear 35-1 and the second gear35-2 may be formed on the both side walls 12 a and 22 a of the firstframe 12 and the second frame 22, respectively. When the hinge members34-1 and 34-2 of FIG. 6 pass through the second connection holes 33-1and 33-2 and are inserted into the first connection holes 32-1 and 33-2,screws S are inserted into the screw holes 34 c from the connectionbracket 31. Accordingly, the first body 1 and the second body 2 may becoupled to the connection bracket 31 so that the first body 1 and thesecond body 2 may pivot about the insertion portions 34 a of the hingemembers 34-1 and 34-2. The cover member 5 covers the connection bracket31 and the first gear 35-1 and the second gear 35-2. For example, therecesses 53 that are sunken from the side walls 52 of the cover member 5are shaped to receive the connection bracket 31, the first gear 35-1,and the second gear 35-2.

Referring to FIG. 8C, recesses 11 c and 21 c that are sunken inward fromouter surfaces 11 b and 21 b may be formed in both side walls 11 a and21 a of the first base cover 11 and the second base cover 21 and thefirst gear 35-1 and the second gear 35-2 may be provided in the recesses11 c and 21 c. In the present exemplary embodiment, a connection member31 b in which the first and second hinge members 34-1 and 34-2 and theconnection bracket 31 are integrally formed is used. That is, theconnection member 31 b is formed so that the insertion portions 34 a areintegrally formed with the connection bracket 31. Referring to FIG. 8C,the connection member 31 b includes a bracket portion 31-3 that isdisposed outside the first gear 35-1 and the second gear 35-2, andinsertion shafts 31-1 and 31-2 that extend from the bracket portion 31-3and are inserted into centers of the first gear 35-1 and the second gear35-2, that is, into the second connection holes 33-1 and 33-2. After thefirst body 1 and the second body 2 are disposed parallel to each otherso that the first gear 35-1 and the second gear 35-2 engage with eachother, the insertion shafts 31-1 and 31-2 are respectively inserted intothe second connection holes 33-1 and 33-2. Next, the cover member 5 maybe coupled to the first body 1 and the second body 2 by slightlywidening outward the side walls 52 and inserting the connection member31 b into the recesses 53 (see FIG. 5). Accordingly, the side walls 52of the cover member 5 may prevent the connection member 31 b from beingseparated outward and a state where the insertion shafts 31-1 and 31-2are inserted into the second connection holes 33-1 and 33-2 may bemaintained. The first gear 35-1 and the second gear 35-2 are covered bythe side walls 52 of the cover member 56. To this end, the recesses 53may be shaped to receive even the first gear 35-1 and the second gear35-2. The connection member 31 b of the present exemplary embodiment mayalso be applied to the gear connection structure of FIG. 8B.

In order for the first gear 35-1 and the second gear 35-2 to smoothlyengage with each other, an interaxial distance DS1, that is, a distancebetween the central axes 30-1 and 30-2, is to be maintained. Theinteraxial distance DS1 depends on a distance DS2 between the insertionshafts 31-1 and 31-2 provided on the connection member 31 b and adifference between diameters of the insertion shafts 31-1 and 31-2 anddiameters of the second connection holes 33-1 and 33-2. During amanufacturing process, a tolerance of the distance DS2 between theinsertion shafts 31-1 and 31-2 and a tolerance of the difference betweenthe diameters of the insertion shafts 31-1 and 31-2 and the secondconnection holes 33-1 and 33-2 may negatively affect the interaxialdistance DS2. The diameters of the insertion shafts 31-1 and 31-2 are tobe less than the diameters of the second connection holes 33-1 and 33-1.Hence, the diameters of the insertion shafts 31-1 and 31-2 have a (−)tolerance and the diameters of the second connection holes 33-1 and 33-2have a (+) tolerance. In this state, when the distance DS2 between theinsertion shafts 31-1 and 31-2 has a (+) tolerance, the first body 1 andthe second body 2 may be spaced apart from each other in a longitudinaldirection L by the difference between the diameters of the insertionshafts 31-1 and 31-2 and the diameters of the second connection holes33-1 and 33-2, thereby accordingly reducing the amount of engagementbetween the first gear 35-1 and the second gear 35-2. In this regard, inthe present exemplary embodiment, the distance DS2 between the insertionshafts 31-1 and 31-2 has a (−) tolerance. That is, the distance DS2between the insertion shafts 31-1 and 31-2 is less than the interaxialdistance DS1. In this configuration, the amount of spacing between thefirst body 1 and the second body 2 in the longitudinal direction L maybe reduced, the amount of engagement between the first gear 35-1 and thesecond gear 35-2 may be prevented from being reduced, and thus the firstbody 1 and the second body 2 may smoothly fold and unfold. Thisconfiguration may also be applied to an interval between the firstconnection hole 32-1 and the second connection hole 32-2 of theconnection bracket 31 that is applied to the gear connection structureof FIG. 8B.

In a connection structure not including the first gear 35-1 and thesecond gear 35-2, since pivoting of the first body 1 and the second body2 may not be synchronized during a folding/unfolding process, the firstbody 1 and the second body 2 may be misaligned with each other in anunfolded state, as shown in FIG. 8D. The first body 1 and the secondbody 2 may be misaligned with each other even due to an elastic forceapplied from an elastic unit that will be described below. Once thefirst body 1 and the second body 2 are misaligned with each other, alevel difference 4 e may occur in the third part 4 c of the flexibledisplay device 4. In the connection structure of FIG. 8A, since thefirst gear 35-1 and the second gear 35-2 engage with each other, thefirst body 1 and the second body 2 synchronously pivot during afolding/unfolding process. Hence, the first body 1 and the second body 2are not misaligned with each other during a folding/unfolding process.Also, the elastic unit may stably operate.

FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a modification ofthe hinge unit 3 for foldably connecting the first body 1 and the secondbody 2. Referring to FIG. 9, the hinge unit 3 includes one pair of hingemembers 34-1 a and 34-2 a on which the first gear 35-1 and the secondgear 35-2 are formed and one pair of idle gears 36-1 and 36-2 thatconnect the first gear 35-1 and the second gear 35-2. The one pair ofhinge members 34-1 a and 34-2 a are respectively connected to the firstbody 1 and the second body 2. A connection bracket 31 a may include onepair of brackets 31 a-1 and 31 a-2 that are coupled to each other andform a space in which the first gear 35-1 and the second gear 35-2 andthe idle gears 36-1 and 36-2 are received.

For example, the hinge member 34-1 a includes a shaft 34 d that extendsalong the central axis 30-1 and the first gear 35-1 that is provided onthe shaft 34 d. An insertion portion 34 e that is inserted into thefirst body 1, for example, a connection hole 33-1 a formed in the sidewall 11 a of the first base cover 11, is provided on one end portion ofthe shaft 34 d. Shapes of the connection hole 33-1 a and the insertionportion 34 e are determined or provided so that the hinge member 34-1 arotates along with the first body 1. For example, referring to FIG. 9,the connection hole 33-1 a and the insertion portion 34 e havequadrangular cross-sectional shapes. Likewise, the hinge member 34-2 aincludes the shaft 34 d that extends along the central axis 30-2 and thesecond gear 35-2 that is provided on the shaft 34 d. The insertionportion 34 e that is inserted into the second body 2, for example, aconnection hole 33-2 a formed in the side wall 21 a of the second basecover 21, is provided on one end portion of the shaft 34 d. Shapes ofthe connection hole 33-2 a and the insertion portion 34 e are determinedso that the hinge member 34-2 a rotates along with the second body 2.For example, referring to FIG. 9, the connection hole 33-2 a and theinsertion portion 34 e have quadrangular cross-sectional shapes.

The insertion portions 34 e of the one pair of hinge members 34-1 a and34-2 a may pass through support-holes 31 a-1 a and 31 a-1 b of thebracket 31 a-1 and may be respectively inserted into the connectionholes 33-1 a and 33-2 a formed in the side walls 11 a and 21 a, and thebracket 31 a-2 may be coupled to the bracket 31 a-1. The hinge member34-1 a passes through the support holes 31 a-1 a and 31 a-2 a of thebrackets 31 a-1 and 31 a-2, and the hinge member 34-2 a passes throughthe support holes 31 a-1 b and 31 a-2 b of the brackets 31 a-1 and 31a-2. Accordingly, the connection bracket 31 a may be pivotably connectedto the one pair of hinge members 34-1 a and 34-2 a. The idle gears 36-1and 36-2 are pivotably supported in support holes 31 a-1 c and 31 a-2 cformed in the one pair of brackets 31 a-1 and 31 a-2.

FIG. 10 is an exploded perspective view illustrating anothermodification of the hinge unit 3 for foldably connecting the first body1 and the second body 2. The hinge unit 3 of FIG. 10 is similar to thehinge unit 3 of FIG. 9, though the connection bracket 31 a of FIG. 9 isreplaced with a connection bracket 31 a′. That is, the bracket 31 a-2including the support holes 31 a-2 c of FIG. 9 is replaced with abracket 31 a-2′ including support posts 31 a-2 c′. Also, concaveportions 36-5 into which the support posts 31 a-2 c′ are inserted areformed in the idle gears 36-3 and 36-4.

In this configuration, the first body 1 and the second body 2 may beconnected to each other to change between the unfolded position of FIG.2 and the folded position of FIG. 3. Also, since the first gear 35-1 andthe second gear 35-2 are received in the connection bracket 31 a or 31a′, a lubricant applied to the first gear 35-1 and the second gear 35-2may be prevented from being exposed to the outside and from beingcontaminated with dust. The cover member 5 covers the connection bracket31 a or 31 a′. For example, the recesses 53 formed in the side walls 52of the cover member 5 are shaped to receive the connection bracket 31 a.

The foldable device 100 may be carried and stored in the folded state ofFIG. 3, and may be changed to the unfolded state of FIG. 2 while beingused. In the unfolded state, the third part 4 c of the flexible displaydevice 4 may warp downward due to gravity and may be temporarilydeformed. Also, when the flexible display device 4 is maintained in thefolded state for a long time, the third part 4 c may be permanentlydeformed. A plurality of thin-film layers constituting the flexibledisplay device 4 are adhered to one another by using an adhesive layer.A relatively long time (delay time) is taken for the adhesive layer toreturn from a bent state to a completely unfolded state according tomobility of an adhesive. During the delay time, the flexible displaydevice 4 tends to be bent. Due to such temporal or permanent deformationand the delay time of the adhesive layer, even when the first body 1 andthe second body 2 unfold, the flexible display device 4 may not becompletely spread flat, thereby obstructing an image displayed on theentire flexible display device 4. Also, when the flexible display device4 fails to be completely spread flat, the first body 1 and the secondbody 2 also fail to completely unfold. Even when a user applies anexternal force to the first body 1 and the second body 2 to try to makethe first body 1 and the second body 2 completely unfold, the first body1 and the second body 2 may slightly fold as shown in FIG. 11 due to arestoring force caused by mobility of the adhesive layer and temporal orpermanent deformation of the flexible display device 4. Hence, the userhas to inconveniently use the foldable device 100 in a state where aforce is applied to the first body 1 and the second body 2 to make thefirst body 1 and the second body 2 completely unfold.

According to the foldable device 100 of the present exemplaryembodiment, an elastic unit for applying an elastic force to the firstbody 1 and the second body 2 is used in order to maintain the first body1 and the second body 2 in a completely unfolded state. In thecompletely unfolded state, the elastic unit applies an elastic force tothe first body 1 and the second body 2 so that the first body 1 and thesecond body 2 are far away from each other or are spread apart. Due tothe elastic force, a tensile force may be applied to the flexibledisplay device 4 and the third part 4 c of the flexible display device 4may be spread flat. When the first body 1 and the second body 2 changebetween the folded position and the unfolded position, a direction ofthe elastic force applied by the elastic unit may be changed from adirection obstructing position change of the first body 1 and the secondbody 2 to a direction allowing position change of the first body 1 andthe second body 2.

In an exemplary embodiment, referring to FIG. 5, the elastic unit mayinclude an elastic arm 61 that is provided on the first body 1 and afacing arm 62 that faces the elastic arm 61. The elastic arm 61 and thefacing arm 62 may be located adjacent to the facing edges 13 and 23 ofthe first body 1 and the second body 2. The elastic arm 61 and thefacing arm 62 are spaced apart from each other when the first body 1 andthe second body 2 are in the folded position. When the first body 1 andthe second body 2 are located at the unfolded position, the elastic arm61 contacts the facing arm 62 to be elastically deformed, and thusapplies an elastic force to the facing arm 62 so that the first body 1and the second body 2 are located at the unfolded position. Due to theelastic force of the elastic arm 61, the second body 2 is forced to bespaced apart from the first body 1, and thus the third part 4 c of theflexible display device 4 is spread flat.

The elastic arm 61 and the facing arm 62 may be integrally formed withthe first base cover 11 and the second base cover 21 or the first frame12 and the second frame 22. In the present exemplary embodiment, theelastic arm 61 and the facing arm 62 are integrally formed with thefirst frame 12 and the second frame 22, respectively.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C′ of FIG. 5,according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 12, the elasticarm 61 and the facing arm 62 respectively extend from the first basecover 11 and the second base cover 21 and face each other. The elasticarm 61 includes a first contact portion 61-1 that contacts a facingportion 62 a of the facing arm 62 when the first body 1 and the secondbody 2 are in the unfolded position. The first contact portion 61-1 andthe facing portion 62 a of the present exemplary embodiment have planarshapes. The first contact portion 61-1 is inclined at an angle D1 withrespect to the facing portion 62 a. The angle D1 may be determined sothat when the first body 1 and the second body 2 are in the unfoldedposition and the elastic arm 61 is pushed by the facing arm 62 to bedeformed, the first contact portion 61-1 is parallel to the facingportion 62 a. Accordingly, when the first body 1 and the second body 2are in the unfolded position, the first contact portion 61-1 and thefacing portion 62 a surface-contact each other, and thus the first body1 and the second body 2 may be maintained in the unfolded state. Thefirst contact portion 61-1 may contact the facing portion 62 a at atleast two positions that are spaced apart from each other in a pivotingdirection of the first body 1 and the second body 2 when the first body1 and the second body 2 are in the unfolded position. The expression‘surface-contact’ corresponds to even a state where the first contactportion 61-1 contacts the facing portion 62 a at at least two positionsthat are spaced apart from each other in the pivoting direction of thefirst body 1 and the second body 2.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a state where the first body1 and the second body 2 are at an unfolding angle E, according to anexemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 13, the first body 1 and thesecond body 2 may be stopped at at least one position between the foldedstate and the completely unfolded state. The unfolding angle E betweenthe first body 1 and the second body 2 may range from about 90° to about180°, for example, from about 90° to about 120°. An angle at which thefoldable device 100 may be most naturally used in the state of FIG. 13is the unfolding angle E ranging from about 90° to about 120°. In thisconfiguration, for example, an input unit such as a keyboard or an inputicon may be displayed on the second part 4 b of the flexible displaydevice 4 and a screen responding to a command input through the inputunit may be displayed on the first part 4 a of the flexible displaydevice 4.

Referring back to FIG. 12, the elastic arm 61 may further include asecond contact portion 61-2 that is inclined with respect to the firstcontact portion 61-1. The second contact portion 61-2 of the presentexemplary embodiment has a planar shape. The second contact portion 61-2is inclined at an angle D2 with respect to the facing portion 62 a. Thesecond contact portion 61-2 is distinguished from the first contactportion 61-1 by a boundary portion 61-3 that projects the most towardthe second body 2. The angle D2 may be determined so that when the firstbody 1 and the second body 2 are located at a position having theunfolding angle E and the elastic arm 61 is pushed by the facing arm 62to be deformed, the second contact portion 61-2 is parallel to thefacing portion 62 a. Accordingly, the second contact portion 61-2 maysurface-contact the facing portion 62 a and the first body 1 and thesecond body 2 may be stopped and maintained in a state having theunfolding angle E.

FIGS. 14A, 14B, 14C, and 14D are cross-sectional views respectivelyillustrating a state where the first body 1 and the second body 2 are inthe folded position, an initial state where the first body 1 and thesecond body 2 begin to unfold and the elastic arm 61 contacts the facingarm 62, a state where the first body 1 and the second body 2 aremaintained at a predetermined unfolding angle, and a state where thefirst body 1 and the second body 2 completely unfold. How the first body1 and the second body 2 fold and unfold will now be explained withreference to FIGS. 14A through 14D.

Referring to FIG. 14A, when the first body 1 and the second body 2 arein the folded position, the elastic arm 61 and the facing arm 62 arespaced apart from each other. The curved portion 4 d of the flexibledisplay device 4 is received between the first receiver 122 and thesecond receiver 222.

In this state, when the first body 1 and the second body 2 unfold, asshown in FIG. 14B, the elastic arm 61 contacts the facing arm 62. Whenthe first body 1 and the second body 2 further unfold, the elastic arm61 is pushed by the facing arm 62 to be elastically deformed. In thiscase, an elastic force of the elastic arm 61 is applied so that positionchange of the first body 1 and the second body 2 is obstructed. In thisstate, when the first body 1 and the second body 2 further unfold, theelastic force of the elastic arm 61 is changed and applied so that thefirst body 1 and the second body 2 unfold. Even when an external forceis removed, the first body 1 and the second body 2 rapidly change to theposition having the unfolding angle E due to the elastic force.

When an angle between the first body 1 and the second body 2 reaches theunfolding angle E, as shown in FIG. 14C, the second contact portion 61-2of the elastic arm 61 contacts the facing portion 62 a of the facing arm62. Even when an external force for making the first body 1 and thesecond body 2 unfold is removed, the angle between the first body 1 andthe second body 2 is maintained at the unfolding angle E. Also, evenwhen a force for making the first body 1 and the second body 2 furtherunfold or fold is applied to the first body 1 and the second body 2,unless the angle between the first body 1 and the second body 2 reachesan angle at which contact between the second contact portion 61-2 andthe facing portion 62 a completely ends, the first body 1 and the secondbody 2 return to the state having the unfolding angle E due to theelastic force of the elastic arm 61.

In the state of FIG. 14C, when the first body 1 and the second body 2further unfold, contact between the second contact portion 61-2 and thefacing portion 62 a ends and, as shown in FIG. 14D, the first contactportion 61-1 surface-contacts the facing portion 62 a. In this case, adirection of the elastic force of the elastic arm 61 is changed from adirection obstructing position change of the first body 1 and the secondbody 2 to a direction allowing position change of the first body 1 andthe second body 2. Even when an external force for making the first body1 and the second body 2 unfold is removed, the first body 1 and thesecond body 2 are maintained in the completely unfolded state. Also,even when a force for making the first body 1 and the second body 2 foldis applied to the first body 1 and the second body 2, unless the anglebetween the first body 1 and the second body 2 reaches an angle at whichcontact between the first contact portion 61-1 and the facing portion 62a completely ends, the first body 1 and the second body 2 return to thecompletely unfolded state due to the elastic force of the elastic arm61. In this state, the elastic arm 61 elastically contacts the facingarm 62 and applies the elastic force so that the first body 1 and thesecond body 2 are spaced apart from each other. Due to the elasticforce, the third part 4 c of the flexible display device 4 is spreadflat.

The first body 1 and the second body 2 that are in the unfolded positionof FIG. 14D may be maintained at the unfolding angle E of FIG. 14C andmay change to the folded position of FIG. 14A in reverse order.

Since the elastic unit is used as described above, the third part 4 c ofthe flexible display device 4 may be spread flat when the first body 1and the second body 2 unfold and, even when an external force isremoved, the first body 1 and the second body 2 may be maintained at thecompletely unfolded position. Also, the first body 1 and the second body2 may be maintained at the position having the unfolding angle E.Additionally, the elastic unit applies an elastic force so that thefirst body 1 and the second body 2 fold or unfold during afolding/unfolding process. Accordingly, the first body 1 and the secondbody 2 easily fold or unfold.

FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the elastic unitaccording to another exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 15, thefacing arm 62 may contact the elastic arm 61 and may be elasticallydeformed. Hereinafter, the elastic arm 61 and the facing arm 62 arerespectively referred to as a first elastic arm 61 and a second elasticarm 62. The first elastic arm 61 is the same as the elastic arm 61 ofFIG. 12. For example, the second elastic arm 62 may be integrally formedwith the second frame 22 of the second body 2. The facing portion 62 amay include a first facing portion 62-1 and a second facing portion 62-2having planar shapes and respectively corresponding to the first contactportion 61-1 and the second contact portion 61-2. The second facingportion 62-2 is distinguished from the first facing portion 62-1 by aboundary portion 62-3 that projects most toward the first body 1. Whenthe first body 1 and the second body 2 are in the position having theunfolding angle E of FIG. 13, the second contact portion 61-2 and thesecond facing portion 62-2 surface-contact each other, and the firstelastic arm 61 and the second elastic arm 62 are elastically deformed topush each other. When the first body 1 and the second body 2 are locatedat the completely unfolded position, the first contact portion 61-1 andthe first facing portion 62-1 may surface-contact each other to pusheach other, the flexible display device 4 may be spread flat, and thefirst body 1 and the second body 2 may be maintained at the completelyunfolded position.

Although the first elastic arm 61 and the second elastic arm 62 areintegrally formed with the first body 1 and the second body 2 in thepresent exemplary embodiment, it is understood that one or more otherexemplary embodiments are not limited thereto. FIG. 16 is across-sectional view illustrating the elastic unit according to anotherexemplary embodiment. As shown in FIG. 16, a first elastic arm 61′having a leaf spring shape and including the first contact portion 61-1and the second contact portion 61-2 may be coupled to the first body 1,for example, the first frame 12. Also, a second elastic arm 62′ having aleaf spring shape and including the first facing portion 62-1 and thesecond facing portion 62-2 may be coupled to the second body 2, forexample, the second frame 22.

Although the first contact portion 61-1 and the second contact portion61-2 and the first facing portion 62-1 and the second facing portion62-2 having planer shapes are used as the elastic unit in the presentexemplary embodiment, it is understood that one or more other exemplaryembodiments are not limited thereto. The first contact portion 61-1 andthe second contact portion 61-2 or both the first contact portion 61-1and the second contact portion 61-2 and the first facing portion 62-1and the second facing portion 62-2 may have curved shapes. FIG. 17 is across-sectional view illustrating the elastic unit according to anotherexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 17, an elastic arm (first elastic arm) 61″ including afirst contact portion 61-1″ and a second contact portion 61-2″ havingcurved shapes is elastic, has a leaf spring shape, and is coupled to thefirst body 1, for example, the first frame 21. The first contact portion61-1″ and the second contact portion 61-2″ are distinguished from eachother by a boundary portion 61-3″ that projects most toward the secondbody 2. A facing arm (second elastic arm) 62″ including a first facingportion 62-1″ and a second facing portion 62-2″ having curved shapesrespectively corresponding to the first contact portion 61-1″ and thesecond contact portion 61-2″ is elastic, has a leaf spring shape, and iscoupled to the second body 2, for example, the second frame 22. Thefirst facing portion 62-1″ and the second facing portion 62-2″ aredistinguished from each other by a boundary portion 62-3″ that projectsmost toward the first body 1.

FIGS. 18A, 18B, and 18C are cross-sectional views illustrating aninitial state where the first body 1 and the second body 2 begin tounfold and the elastic arm 61″ contacts the facing arm 62″, a statewhere the first body 1 and the second body 2 are maintained at apredetermined unfolding angle, and a state where the first body 1 andthe second body 2 completely unfold. How the first body 1 and the secondbody 2 fold and unfold will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 18Athrough 18C.

When the first body 1 and the second body 2 are in the folded position,the elastic arm 61″ and the facing arm 62″ are spaced apart from eachother. In this state, when the first body 1 and the second body 2unfold, as shown in FIG. 18A, the elastic arm 61″ contacts the facingarm 62″. When the elastic arm 61″ begins to contact the facing arm 62″,the elastic arm 61″ and the facing arm 62 may surface-contact eachother. Accordingly, the problem that the first body 1 and the secondbody 2 are misaligned with each other as shown in FIG. 8D in theconnection structure not including the first gear 35-1 and the secondgear 35-2 may be reduced by minimizing a vertical component F2 of anelastic force and maximizing a horizontal component F1 of the elasticforce. When the first body 1 and the second body 2 further unfold, theelastic arm 61″ is pushed by the facing arm 62″ and begins to beelastically deformed.

When an angle between the first body 1 and the second body 2 reaches theunfolding angle E, as shown in FIG. 18B, the second contact portion61-2″ contacts the second facing portion 62-2″. Since a line L1 alongwhich an elastic force is applied due to deformation of the elastic arm61″ and the facing arm 62″ is under the central axes 30-1 and 30-2 ofthe first body 1 and the second body 2, the elastic force is applied sothat the first body 1 and the second body 2 fold. However, a stiffnessof the flexible display device 4 and the elastic force applied due tothe deformation of the elastic arm 61″ and the facing arm 62″ arebalanced, and thus even when an external force for making the first body1 and the second body 2 unfold is removed, the angle between the firstbody 1 and the second body 2 is maintained at the unfolding angle E.Even when the first body 1 and the second body 2 further unfold, unlessthe first body 1 and the second body 2 unfold at an angle exceeding theboundary portions 61-3″ and 62-3″, the first body 1 and the second body2 return to the unfolding angle E due to the elastic force of theelastic arm 61″ and the facing arm 62″.

In the state of FIG. 18B, when the first body 1 and the second body 2further unfold, the first body 1 and the second body 2 unfold at anangle exceeding the boundary portions 61-3″ and 62-3″ and the firstcontact portion 61-1″ contacts the first facing portion 62-2″. Since aline L2 along which an elastic force is applied due to deformation ofthe elastic arm 61″ and the facing arm 62″ is over the central axes 30-1and 30-2 of the first body 1 and the second body 2, the elastic force isapplied so that the first body 1 and the second body 2 unfold. Hence,even when an external force for making the first body 1 and the secondbody 2 unfold is removed, the third part 4 c of the flexible displaydevice 4 is spread flat due to the elastic force applied due to thedeformation of the elastic arm 61″ and the facing arm 62″ and the firstbody 1 and the second body 2 are maintained in the completely unfoldedstate. Even when a force for making the first body 1 and the second body2 fold is applied to the first body 1 and the second body 2, unless thefirst body 1 and the second body 2 fold at an angle exceeding theboundary portions 61-3″ and 62-3″, the first body 1 and the second body2 return to the completely unfolded state due to the elastic force ofthe elastic arm 61″ and the facing arm 62″.

According to the connection structure including the first gear 35-1 andthe second gear 35-2 of FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, 9, and 10, the first body 1and the second body 2 synchronously pivot during a folding/unfoldingprocess. Hence, the elastic arm 61′ or 61″ and the facing arm 62′ or 62″are symmetric with each other about a center of a line that connects thecentral axes 30-1 and 30-2 of the first body 1 and the second body 2.Hence, the elastic arm 61′ or 61″ and the facing arm 61′ or 61″ are notmisaligned with each other, stably contact each other, and thus may beelastically deformed in desired directions.

Referring back to FIG. 5, in order to make the third part 4 c of theflexible display device 4 spread flat when the first body 1 and thesecond body 2 are located at the unfolded position, the foldable device100 may further include a movable support member 7 (e.g., movablesupporter). The movable support member 7 includes movable supports 71that support the third part 4 c of the flexible display device 4. Themovable supports 71 may be disposed on both sides in a width direction Wand may partially support the third part 4 c of the flexible displaydevice 4. The movable support member 7 is located at a support positionwhere the movable supports 71 support the third part 4 c of the flexibledisplay device 4 when the first body 1 and the second body 2 are in theunfolded position. The movable support member 7 supports the third part4 c of the flexible display device 4 between the first receiver 122 andthe second receiver 222. When the first body 1 and the second body 2change to the folded position, the movable support member 7 is locatedat a retreat position to form the receiving space of the curved portion4 d. That is, the movable support member 7 moves between the retreatposition and the support position as the first body 1 and the secondbody 2 change between the folded position and the unfolded position. Assuch, when the first body 1 and the second body 2 are in the unfoldedposition, since the third part 4 c of the flexible display device 4 issupported by the movable support member 7, the third part 4 c may bespread flat. As the foldable device 100 changes from the folded positionto the unfolded position, the movable support member 7 may be raisedfrom the retreat position to the support position to continuouslynear-support the third part 4 c of the flexible display device 4. Theexpression ‘continuously near-support’ means that while the foldabledevice 100 folds/unfolds, the movable support member 7 continuouslysupports the third part 4 c of the flexible display device 4 or israised/retreated to the position that supports the third part 4 c of theflexible display device 4 that is bent or spread.

FIG. 19 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a structure formoving the movable support member 7 between the support position and theretreat position, according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring toFIG. 19, slots 72 that extend in a folding/unfolding direction in whichthe first body 1 and the second body 2 fold/unfold are formed in themovable support member 7. One pair of guide portions 73-1 and 73-2 thatare inserted into the slots 72 are formed around facing edges of thefirst body 1 and the second body 2 that are adjacent to the hinge unit3. For example, the guide portions 73-1 and 73-2 may be respectivelyprovided on upper ends of ribs 74-1 and 74-2 that respectively extendupward from the first frame 12 and the second frame 22. Insertiongrooves 75 for inserting the guide portions 73-1 and 73-2 into the slots72 are formed in the movable support member 7. The insertion grooves 75are formed at central portions of the slots 72 in a longitudinaldirection 72L of the slots 72. While the first body 1 and the secondbody 2 fold/unfold, the guide portions 73-1 and 73-2 move in thelongitudinal direction 72L of the slots 72. However, the guide portions73-1 and 73-2 do not move to overlap with the insertion grooves 72.Accordingly, while the movable support member 7 is elevated after theguide portions 73-1 and 73-2 are inserted into the slots 72, the guideportions 73-1 and 73-2 are not separated from the slots 72 through theinsertion grooves 75.

FIGS. 20A, 20B, and 20C are cross-sectional views taken along line F-F′of FIG. 19, illustrating respectively states where the movable supportmember 7 is located at the support position and the retreat position,according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 20A, the firstbody 1 and the second body 2 are in the folded position. The guideportions 73-1 and 73-2 are farthest away from each other, and themovable support member 7 is located at the retreat position. The curvedportion 4 d of the flexible display device 4 is received in a spaceformed by the first receiver 122, the second receiver 222, and themovable support member 7.

In the state of FIG. 20A, when the first body 1 and the second body 2unfold, the guide portions 73-1 and 73-2 slide into the slots 72 toapproach each other and the movable support member 7 is raised towardthe flexible display device 4 to continuously near-support the thirdpart 4 c of the flexible display device 4.

When the first body 1 and the second body 2 completely unfold as shownin FIG. 20C, the movable support member 7 is located at the supportposition and the third part 4 c of the flexible display device 4 isstably supported by the movable support 71.

Referring to FIGS. 20B and 20C, portions of the third part 4 c of theflexible display device 4 corresponding to the first receiver 122 andthe second receiver 222 between the first support 121 and the secondsupport 221 and the movable support member 7 are not supported byanother member when the first body 1 and the second body 2 are locatedat the unfolded position. That is, the third part 4 c of the flexibledisplay device 4 includes a central portion 4 c-3 that is supported bythe movable support member 7 and both side portions 4 c-1 and 4 c-2 thatare not supported by another member. When the first body 1 and thesecond body 2 change from the unfolded position to the folded position,the third part 4 c of the flexible display device 4 tends to be bentdownward, that is, convexly toward the first body 1 and the second body2. When the third part 4 c of the flexible display device is bent, thecentral portion 4 c-3 is supported by the movable support member 7 andboth portions 4 c-1 and 4 c-2 are received in the first receiver 122 andthe second receiver 222 that are concave. Also, while the first body 1and the second body 2 change from the unfolded position to the foldedposition, although the amount of the third part 4 c of the flexibledisplay device 4 that is bent is less than the amount of the movablesupport member 7 that retreats, the third part 4 c may be naturally bentto be received in the first receiver 122 and the second receiver 222.Accordingly, while the first body 1 and the second body 2 change fromthe unfolded position to the folded position, the problem that the thirdpart 4 c is not convexly bent downward but is convexly bent upward dueto a lack of the amount of the movable support member 7 that retreatsmay be solved.

In this configuration, when the first body 1 and the second body 2 arelocated at the unfolded position, the third part 4 c of the flexibledisplay device 4 may be supported by the movable support member 7 andthus may be spread flat. Also, when the first body 1 and the second body2 are in the folded position, a space in which the curved portion 4 maybe received may be secured due to retreat of the movable support member7 from the flexible display device 4. Additionally, when the first body1 and the second body 2 change from the unfolded position to the foldedposition, the flexible display device 4 may be naturally bent downwardto form the curved portion 4 d. Furthermore, even when the first body 1and the second body 2 change from the folded position to the unfoldedposition, the first receiver 122 and the second receiver 222 allow thethird part 4 c to be maintained in the downwardly bent state.

According to a connection structure including the first gear 35-1 andthe second gear 35-2 of FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C, 9, and 10, the first body 1and the second body 2 synchronously pivot during a folding/unfoldingprocess. Hence, the movable support member 7 may also be stably elevatedwithout being inclined to any side during the folding/unfolding process.Also, since the elastic unit applies an elastic force so that the firstbody 1 and the second body 2 unfold or fold, the movable support member7 may be naturally elevated due to the elastic force of the elasticunit.

The guide portions 73-1 and 73-2 and the slots 72 may be provided at atleast two positions in the width direction W of the foldable device 100in order not to tilt the movable support member 7 when the movablesupport member 7 is elevated. The guide portions 73-1 and the slots 72are provided at four positions in the width direction W of the foldabledevice 100 of the present exemplary embodiment. At least one elasticunit is used, and two elastic units may be used in order to keep balancein the width direction in the present exemplary embodiment.

A movement of the guide portions 73-1 and 73-2 in a width direction 72Wof the slots 72 is blocked and a movement of the guide portions 73-1 and73-2 in the longitudinal direction 72L of the slots 72 is allowed. Thatis, a movement of the movable support member 7 in an elevation directionis blocked by the guide portions 73-1 and 73-2. Accordingly, when themovable support member 7 is elevated, the movable support member 7 maybe stably elevated without being shaken in the elevation direction.Also, even when the first body 1 and the second body 2 are in theunfolded position, the movable support 71 of the movable support member7 may not be inclined and may stably and evenly support the third part 4c of the flexible display device 4.

FIGS. 21A and 21B are side views illustrating the foldable device 100according to another exemplary embodiment. FIG. 21A illustrates a statewhere the first body 1 and the second body 2 are in the folded positionand FIG. 21B illustrates a state where the first body 1 and the secondbody 2 are in the unfolded position.

Referring to FIGS. 21a and 21B, the first receiver 122 and the secondreceiver 222 are pivotably coupled to the first support 121 and thesecond support 221. When the first body 1 and the second body 2 are inthe folded position, the first receiver 122 and the second receiver 222are in a first position that retreats from the flexible display device 4in order to receive the curved portion 4 d of the flexible displaydevice 4. When the first body 1 and the second body 2 are in theunfolded position, the first receiver 122 and the second receiver 222are in a second position that supports the third part 4 c of theflexible display device 4. As the first body 1 and the second body 2change between the folded position and the unfolded position, the firstreceiver 122 and the second receiver 222 pivot between the firstposition and the second position. According to the foldable device 100of the present exemplary embodiment, the first receiver 122 and thesecond receiver 222 move between the first position and the secondposition as the movable support member 7 moves. Pivot levers 81 and 82for moving the first receiver 122 and the second receiver 222 betweenthe first position and the second position when the first body 1 and thesecond body 2 change between the folded position and the unfoldedposition may be provided on the movable support member 7. First endportions of the pivot levers 81 and 82 are pivotably supported on themovable support member 7 and the other (i.e., second) end portions ofthe pivot levers 81 and 82 are connected to the first receiver 122 andthe second receiver 222.

Referring to FIG. 21A, when the first body 1 and the second body 2 arein the folded position, the movement support member 7 is in the retreatposition. The curved portion 4 d is formed in the third part 4 c of theflexible display device 4 and the first receiver 122 and the secondreceiver 222 are in the first position due to elasticity of the curvedportion 4 d.

In the state of FIG. 21A, when the first body 1 and the second body 2unfold, the movable support member 7 approaches toward the flexibledisplay device 4 due to operations of the slots 72 and the guideportions 73-1 and 73-2. As the movable support member 7 approachestoward the flexible display device 4, distal end portions 124 and 224 ofthe first receiver 122 and the second receiver 222 that are far fromhinges 123 and 223 are slowly raised due to the first pivot lever 81 andthe second pivot lever 82 and the first receiver 122 and the secondreceiver 222 approach toward the flexible display device 4.

As shown in FIG. 21B, when the first body 1 and the second body 2 reachthe unfolded position, the movable support member 7 reaches the supportposition and the first receiver 122 and the second receiver 222 arepushed by the first pivot lever 81 and the second pivot lever 82 topivot about the hinges 123 and 223 and to be located at the secondposition. In this state, since the first pivot lever 81 and the secondpivot lever 82 are supported by stoppers 83 and 84 that are provided onthe movable support member 7, the first pivot lever 81 and the secondpivot lever 82 no longer pivot. Accordingly, the first receiver 122 andthe second receiver 222 are not spaced apart from the flexible displaydevice 4 and are in the second position. The movable support member 7supports the third part 4 c of the flexible display device 4 between thefirst receiver 122 and the second receiver 222.

In the state of FIG. 21B, when the first body 1 and the second body 2fold, the movable support member 7 begins to be spaced apart from theflexible display device 4 and the first pivot lever 81 and the secondpivot lever 82 are also spaced apart from the flexible display device 4.In this case, the curved portion 4 d is slowly formed in the third part4 c of the flexible display device 4 and the first receiver 122 and thesecond receiver 222 are pushed by the curved portion 4 c to begin topivot about the hinges 123 and 223 toward the first position.Accordingly, a space in which the curved portion 4 d is received isformed in the first body 1 and the second body 2. When the first body 1and the second body 2 reach a position of FIG. 21A, the movable supportmember 7 reaches the retreat position and the first receiving position122 and the second receiving position 222 reach the first position.

In this configuration, when the first body 1 and the second body 2 arelocated at the unfolded position, since the third part 4 c of theflexible display device 4 is supported by the movable support member 7and the first receiver 122 and the second receiver 222, the flexibledisplay device 4 may be stably supported. Also, the third part 4 c ofthe flexible display device 4 may be spread flat.

In order to reduce a compressive force or a tensile force applied to theflexible display device 4 during a folding/unfolding process, the firstpart 4 a and/or the second part 4 b of the flexible display device 4 maynot be bound to the first body 1 and the second body 2. FIG. 22 is aside view illustrating the foldable device 100 according to anotherexemplary embodiment. FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional view taken along lineH-H′ of FIG. 22, according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG.22, the first part 4 a or the second part 4 b may be supported on thefirst body 1 or the second body 2 to move in directions G1 and G2. Forexample, referring to FIG. 23, the first frame 12 may include a firstfixed frame 411 that is fixed to the base cover 11 and a first movableframe 412 that is provided on the first fixed frame 411 to slide in thedirection G1. A guide rail 413 may be provided on the first fixed frame411 and a guide protrusion 414 that is inserted into the guide rail 413may be provided on the first movable frame 412. Elements of the hingeunit 3, elements of the elastic unit, and the first receiver 122 may beprovided on the first fixed frame 411. The first support 121 thatsupports the first part 4 a of the flexible display device 4 may beprovided on the first movable frame 412.

In this configuration, since the first part 4 a of the flexible displaydevice 4 acts as a free end during a folding/unfolding process, acompressive force or a tensile force applied to the flexible displaydevice 4 may be reduced. Accordingly, the possibility that the thirdpart 4 c of the flexible display device 4 tends to be deformed to have aconcave or convex shape 4 f of FIG. 22 may be reduced.

The second part 4 b of the flexible display device 4 may also act as afree end. To this end, as shown in FIG. 23, the second frame 22 mayinclude a second fixed frame 421 that is fixed to the second base cover21 and a second movable frame 422 that is provided on the second fixedframe 421 to slide in the direction G2. A guide rail 423 may be providedon the second fixed frame 421 and a guide protrusion 424 that isinserted into the guide rail 423 may be provided on the second movableframe 422. Elements of the hinge unit 3, elements of the elastic unit,and the second receiver 222 may be provided on the second fixed frame421. The second support 221 that supports the second part 4 b of theflexible display device 4 may be provided on the second movable frame422.

Since the flexible display device 4 is elastic, even when the first body1 and the second body 2 fold as shown in FIG. 3, the first body 1 andthe second body 2 may not completely fold due to a restoring force ofthe curved portion 4 d of the flexible display device 4. The foldabledevice 100 of the present exemplary embodiment maintains the first body1 and the second body 2 at the folded position due to a magnetic force.FIG. 24 is a side view illustrating the foldable device 100 according toanother exemplary embodiment. FIG. 25 is a cross-sectional viewillustrating a magnetic member 91 according to an exemplary embodiment.Referring to FIG. 24, the magnetic member 91 is provided in the firstbody 1, and an attachment member 92 that faces the magnetic member 91 atthe folded position and is attached to the magnetic member 91 due to amagnetic force is provided in the second body 2.

In this configuration, since the magnetic member 91 and the attachmentmember 92 are attached to each other when the first body 1 and thesecond body 2 are in the folded position, the first body 1 and thesecond body 2 may be maintained in the folded state, thereby improvingportability and storage.

Referring to FIG. 25, the magnetic member 91 may include a permanentmagnet 91 a and a magnetic shielding member 91 b that surround surfacesof the permanent magnet 91 a other than a surface 91 a-1 a that facesthe attachment member 92. The magnetic shielding member 91 b may be, forexample, a ferromagnetic member. In this configuration, a magnetic forceof the permanent magnet 91 a may not affect neighboring electrical andelectronic circuits. Since the magnetic shielding member 91 b functionsas a yoke of a magnetic circuit, the magnetic shielding member 91 b mayconcentrate a magnetic force of the permanent magnet 91 a on theattachment member 92 to increase a magnetic attachment force.

The attachment member 92 may be formed of any material if it may beattached to the magnetic member 91. For example, the attachment member92 may be formed of a metal. Also, the attachment member 92 may have thesame structure as that of the magnetic member 91 of FIG. 23.

Second Exemplary Embodiment

One or more exemplary embodiments include a foldable device that maystably support a flexible display device. Also, one or more exemplaryembodiments include a foldable device that may reduce a stress appliedto a flexible display device during a folding/unfolding process. Also,one or more exemplary embodiments include a foldable device that mayhave an improved an outer appearance.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments, a foldable deviceincludes: a body that includes first and second bodies; a flexibledisplay device that is supported on the first body and the second body;a hinge unit that is disposed between the first body and the second bodyand foldably connects the first body and the second body; and a flexibleguide member that is disposed on the body to cross the hinge unit and iselastically bent during a folding/unfolding process to reduce a stressapplied to the flexible display device.

The guide member may be disposed between neutral surfaces of theflexible display device and the hinge unit.

The hinge unit may be connected to at least one of the first body andthe second body to move relative to the at least one of the first bodyand the second body, and the guide member may be connected to at leastone of the first body and the second body to move relative to the atleast one of the first body and the second body.

When ΔL2 and ΔL3 are respectively the amounts of movement of the guidemember and the hinge unit relative to the body during thefolding/unfolding process, the guide member and the hinge unit may beconnected to the body to satisfy ΔL2/ΔL3=C2 (where C2 is a constant).

When NS1 is a neutral surface of the flexible display device, NS2 is aneutral surface of the guide member, NS3 is a neutral surface of thehinge unit, and d12, d23, and d13 are respectively distances between theneutral surface NS1 and the neutral surface NS2, between the neutralsurface NS2 and the neutral surface NS3, and between the neutral surfaceNS1 and the neutral surface NS3, it may be satisfied that d23=d13−d12=C1(where C1 is a constant), d12/d13=ΔL2/ΔL3=C2 (where C2 is a constant),d13=C1/(1−C2).

The foldable device may include a movement amount control unit (e.g.,movement amount controller) that connects the hinge unit and the guidemember to the body so that a ratio of the amount of movement of thehinge unit and the amount of movement of the guide member relative tothe body is constant.

The movement amount control unit may include: a first lever that pivotsabout a shaft provided on the hinge unit and includes a first post; afirst slot that is formed (e.g., included) in the body and into whichthe first post is inserted; a second lever that is coupled to the firstpost, pivots along with the first lever, and includes a second post; anda second slot that is formed in the guide member and into which thesecond post is inserted, wherein a distance between the shaft and thefirst post is greater than a distance between the first post and thesecond post.

When a distance between the shaft and the first post is RA1, a distancebetween the first post and the second post is RA2, a distance betweenthe neutral surface of the flexible display device and the neutralsurface of the guide member is d12, and a distance between the neutralsurface of the flexible display device and the neutral surface of thehinge unit is d13, it may be satisfied that d12/d13=RA2/RA1.

The hinge unit may be connected to the first body and the second body tomove relative to the first body and the second body, and the guidemember may be connected to the first body and the second body to moverelative to the first body and the second body.

The hinge unit may be connected to the first body and the second body tomove relative to the first body and the second body.

The hinge unit may move in a symmetric matter relative to the first bodyand the second body.

The hinge unit may include a first connection portion and a secondconnection portion that are respectively connected to the first body andthe second body, the guide member may include first and second guidemembers that are spaced apart from each other in a width directionperpendicular to a folding/unfolding direction, one end portion of thefirst guide member may be fixed to the first body and the other endportion of the first guide member may be connected to the secondconnection portion to move relative to the second body along with thehinge unit, and one end portion of the second guide member may be fixedto the second body and the other end portion of the second guide membermay be connected to the first connection portion to move relative to thefirst body along with the hinge unit.

When a distance between the neutral surface of the flexible displaydevice and a neutral surface of the first guide member and the secondguide member is d12 and a distance between the neutral surface of thefirst guide member and the second guide member and the neutral surfaceof the hinge unit is d23, it may be satisfied that d12=d23.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments, a foldable deviceincludes: a first body and a second body; a flexible display device thatis supported on the first body and the second body; a hinge unit that isdisposed between the first body and the second body, foldably connectsthe first body and the second body, and is connected to the first bodyand the second body to move relative to the first body and the secondbody; and a movement limiting unit that maintains the first body and thesecond body symmetric with each other about the hinge unit during afolding/unfolding process.

The hinge unit may include a first connection portion and a secondconnection portion that are respectively connected to the first body andthe second body, and the movement limiting unit may include a firstguide member whose one end portion is fixed to the first body and whoseother end portion is connected to the second connection portion andmoves relative to the second body along with the hinge unit, and asecond guide member that is spaced apart from the first guide member ina width direction perpendicular to a folding/unfolding direction andwhose one end portion is fixed to the second body and whose other endportion is connected to the first connection portion and moves relativeto the first body along with the hinge unit.

The first guide member and the second guide member may be spaced apartfrom each other in the width direction that intersects thefolding/unfolding direction.

The first guide member and the second guide member may have sheet shapesthat may be elastically bent.

When a distance between a neutral surface of the flexible display deviceand a neutral surface of the first guide member and the second guidemember is d12 and a distance between the neutral surface of the firstguide member and the second guide member and a neutral surface of thehinge unit is d23, it may be satisfied that d12=d23.

A second exemplary embodiment of the foldable device will now beexplained in detail.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view illustrating an outer appearance of afoldable device according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 27 is a sideview illustrating a state where the foldable device of FIG. 26 unfolds,according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 28 is a side viewillustrating a state where the foldable device of FIG. 26 folds,according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 26 through 28, the foldable device includes a body, aflexible display device 140, and a hinge unit 130. The body includes afirst body 110 and a second body 120. The flexible display device 140 issupported by the first body 110 and the second body 120. For example,the flexible display device 140 may be adhered to the first body 110 andthe second body 120 by using an adhesive unit such as an adhesive or adouble-sided tape. The hinge unit 130 is disposed between the first body110 and the second body 120 and foldably connects the first body 110 andthe second body 120. A folding/unfolding direction of the first body 110and the second body 120 is the longitudinal direction L.

The foldable device may be a portable mobile device such as acommunication terminal, a game player, a multimedia device, a portablecomputer, a personal digital assistant, a photographing apparatus, etc.However, it is understood that one or more other exemplary embodimentsare not limited thereto, and the foldable device may be any deviceincluding the first body 110 that supports the first part 4 a of theflexible display device 140 and the second body 120 that supports thesecond part 4 b of the flexible display device 140, wherein the firstbody 110 and the second body 120 are foldably connected to each other byusing the hinge unit 130.

The flexible display device 140 may include the flexible display panel41 that displays an image and the transparent protective panel 43 thatis disposed outside the flexible display panel 41. Also, the flexibledisplay device 140 may further include the touch panel 42 as an inputunit. The touch panel 42 may be disposed between the transparentprotective panel 43 and the flexible display panel 41. However, it isunderstood that one or more other exemplary embodiments are not limitedthereto, and the flexible display device 4 may further include any ofvarious other optical panels or optical films.

A processing unit (e.g., processor) and an input/output unit (e.g.,input/output device) for performing operations according to the use ofthe foldable device may be provided on the first body 110 and the secondbody 120. When the foldable device is a multimedia terminal thatprovides images and music to a user, the processing unit may include animage/audio information processing unit. When the foldable device is acommunication terminal, the processing unit may include a communicationmodule. The input/output unit may include an image/audio input/outputunit (e.g., image/audio input/output device) and a manipulation unit(e.g., manipulator or manipulation device) for user manipulation. Themanipulation unit may be realized by using the touch panel 42 of theflexible display device 140

The flexible display device 140 may be divided into the first part 4 athat is coupled to the first body 110, the second part 4 b that iscoupled to the second body 120, and the third part 4 c between the firstbody 110 and the second body 120. For example, the flexible displaydevice 140 may be adhered to the first body 110 and the second body 120by using an adhesive unit such as an adhesive or a double-sided tape.The third part 4 c of the flexible display device 140 is not fixed tothe hinge unit 130. When the third part 4 c of the flexible displaydevice 140 is bent, the foldable device may fold as shown in FIG. 28.When the foldable device folds, the hinge unit 130 is disposed outsidethe flexible display device 140 to form a curved portion 130 a having apredetermined curvature as shown in FIG. 28. In this state, the hingeunit 130 may no longer be bent and the third part 4 c of the flexibledisplay device 140 may be protected from being further bent. The hingeunit 130 may have any of various structures for foldably connecting thefirst body 110 and the second body 120. For example, the hinge unit 130may have a chain structure in which a plurality of segment members arepivotably connected to one another or a structure that is elasticallybent.

When the foldable device changes from an unfolded state of FIG. 27 to afolded state of FIG. 28, a length of the flexible display device 140does not change. When a member having a planar shape is bent, an innersurface is compressed and an outer surface is in tension, about aboundary surface between the inner surface and the outer surface of themember. The boundary surface whose length remains constant is referredto as a neutral surface. In principle, a sum of horizontal forcesapplied to the neutral surface is ‘0’. When a stress a applied to theneutral surface is integrated with respect to an area A over which thestress a is applied,

${\sum\limits_{i}{\int_{i}{\sigma_{i}d\; A}}} = 0$

and a surface having a value of ‘0’ becomes the neutral surface.

A length of a neutral surface of the flexible display device 140 doesnot change whereas lengths of an inner surface and an outer surface ofthe flexible display device 140 change. However, since a thickness ofthe flexible display device 140 is small, the lengths of the innersurface and the outer surface very slightly change. Accordingly, it maybe assumed that a length of the flexible display device 140 does notchange.

When the foldable device folds as shown in FIG. 28, the flexible displaydevice 140 is located inside and the hinge unit 130 is located outside.Accordingly, a length L2 (see FIG. 28) of the first body 110 and thesecond body 120 and the hinge unit 130 in the folded state is greaterthan a length L1 (see FIG. 27) of the first body 110 and the second body120 and the hinge unit 130 in the unfolded state. Hence, assuming that alength of the flexible display device 140 does not change, when thefoldable device changes from the unfolded state to the folded state, thehinge unit 130 that is located outside moves in a direction A2 relativeto the first body 110 and the second body 120. In contrast, when thefoldable device changes from the folded state to the unfolded state, thehinge unit 130 moves in a direction Al relative to the first body 110and the second body 120. In this regard, the hinge unit 130 is connectedto the first body 110 and the second body 120 to slide in thelongitudinal direction L. A movement of the hinge unit 130 in thedirections A1 and A2 relative to the first body 110 and the second body120 may be a movement of the first body 110 and the second body 120 inthe directions A2 and A1 relative to the hinge unit 130. Relativemovements of the hinge unit 130 and the first body 110 and the secondbody 120 will now be explained as a movement of the hinge unit 130relative to the first body 110 and the second body 120. The hinge unit130 may be movably connected to any one of the first body 110 and thesecond body 120 and may be fixedly connected to the other of the firstbody 110 and the second body 120. Alternatively, the hinge unit 130 maybe movably connected to both the first body 110 and the second body 120.A structure in which the hinge unit 130 is movably connected to both thefirst body 110 and the second body 120 will now be explained.

FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the foldable deviceaccording to another exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 29, in thepresent exemplary embodiment, the hinge unit 130 is connected to thefirst body 110 and the second body 120 to slide in the longitudinaldirection L. For example, the hinge unit 130 includes a connectionbracket 131 on which a first rail 131 a is provided. The connectionbracket 131 includes first and second connection brackets 131-1 and131-2. The first and second connection brackets 131-1 and 131-2 arerespectively disposed on both sides of the hinge unit 130 in thelongitudinal direction L. The first connection bracket 131-1 isconnected to the first body 110 and the second connection bracket 131-2is connected to the second body 120. A second rail 113 that is coupledto the first rail 131 a and guides the hinge unit 130 to slide relativeto the first body 110 and the second body 120 is provided on each of thefirst body 110 and the second body 120. For example, the first rail 131a may be a slot that extends in the longitudinal direction L and thesecond rail 113 may be a protrusion that is inserted into the slot, orvice versa.

In this configuration, when the foldable device changes between thefolded position and the unfolded position, the hinge unit 130 slides inthe directions A1 and A2 relative to the first body 110 and the secondbody 120. In this case, since a length of the flexible display device140 does not change, a stress may be applied to the flexible displaydevice 140 due to a force for making the foldable device fold andunfold.

Referring to FIG. 29, a flexible guide member 150 is disposed on thefirst body 1 and the second body 2 to cross the hinge unit 130, andreduces a stress applied to the flexible display device 140 by beingelastically bent during a folding/unfolding process. The guide member150 having a flexible sheet shape that is elastically bent may be formedof (e.g., include), for example, a metal thin film or a plastic film.The guide member 150 may be provided on the first body 110 and thesecond body 120 to slide relative to at least one of the first body 110and the second body 120. For example, if the hinge unit 130 slidesrelative to the first body 110, the guide member 150 slides relative tothe first body 110. Also, when the hinge unit 130 slides relative to thefirst body 110 and the second body 120, the guide member 150 also slidesrelative to the first body 110 and the second body 120. The guide member150 distributes a stress applied to the flexible display device 140 whenthe foldable device changes between the folded state and the unfoldedstate. That is, the guide member 150 reduces a stress applied to theflexible display device 140 by being elastically bent or spread toabsorb part of a force for making the foldable device fold and unfold.

The guide member 150 is disposed between the flexible display device 140and the hinge unit 130 in a thickness direction T of the foldabledevice. Specifically, the guide member 150 is disposed between a neutralsurface NS1 (see FIG. 30) of the flexible display device 140 and aneutral surface NS3 (see FIG. 30) of the hinge unit 130 in the thicknessdirection T. The guide member 150 extends toward the first body 110 andthe second body 120 across the hinge unit 130. A slot 132 through whichthe guide member 150 passes may be formed in the hinge unit 130. Inorder to make the guide member 150 easily bend and spread when thefoldable device changes between the folded state and the unfolded state,the guide member 150 and the first body 110 and the second body 120 maybe connected to each other to relatively move in the longitudinaldirection L. For example, the guide member 150 may be connected to thefirst body 110 and the second body 120 to slide in the longitudinaldirection L. A third rail 151 is provided on the guide member 150, and afourth rail 114 to which the third rail 151 is slidably coupled isprovided on each of the first body 110 and the second body 120. Forexample, referring to FIG. 29, the third rail 151 may be a slot that isformed in the guide member 150 and extends in the longitudinal directionL, and the fourth rail 114 may be a protrusion that is inserted into thethird rail 151.

As shown in FIG. 29, the flexible display device 140 is disposed insideand the guide member 150 and the hinge unit 130 are disposed outside.When the foldable device changes between the folded state and theunfolded state, the sliding (movement) amounts of the hinge unit 130 andthe guide member 150 relative to the first body 110 and the second body120 are different from each other.

FIG. 30 is a schematic view illustrating the sliding amounts of thehinge unit 130 and the guide member 150 when the first body 110 and thesecond body 120 in an unfolded state begin to fold to have apredetermined unfolding angle θ, according to an exemplary embodiment.In FIG. 30, NS1 is a neutral surface of the flexible display device 140,NS2 is a neutral surface of the guide member 150, and NS3 is a neutralsurface of the hinge unit 130. ΔL1, ΔL2, and ΔL3 are respectively thesliding amounts of the flexible display device 140, the guide member150, and the hinge unit 130 relative to the first body 110 and thesecond body 120 until the foldable device in the unfolded state reachesthe unfolding angle θ. d12, d23, and d13 are respectively distancesbetween the neutral surface NS1 and the neutral surface NS2, between theneutral surface NS2 and the neutral surface NS3, and between the neutralsurface NS1 and the neutral surface NS3.

Since a length of the flexible display device 140 does not change,

ΔL1=0,

ΔL2=d12×θ, and

ΔL3=d13×θ (where θ is in radians).

In order to not apply an excessive stress to the flexible display device40 during a folding/unfolding process, even when the unfolding angle θchanges, the distance d13 is maintained constant. To this end, thedistance d23 and ΔL2/ΔL3 are also constant during the folding/unfoldingprocess.

d23=d13−d12=C1 (where C1 is a constant)  Equation 1

ΔL2/ΔL3=d12/d13=C2 (where C2 is a constant)  Equation 2

When Equations 1 and 2 are satisfied, d13=C1/(1−C2) and the distance d13may be maintained constant. In this configuration, a length of theflexible display device 140 may not change during a folding/unfoldingprocess and lengths of the first body 110 and the second body 120 andthe hinge unit 130 may naturally change, thereby leading to stablefolding/unfolding. Also, a stress applied to the flexible display device140 during the folding/unfolding process may be reduced due to the guidemember 150.

In order to satisfy the above conditions, the foldable device of thepresent exemplary embodiment includes a sliding amount (movement amount)control unit (e.g., controller) for maintaining constant a ratio of thesliding amount (ΔL3) of the hinge unit 130 and the sliding amount (ΔL2)of the guide member 150 during a folding/unfolding process.

FIG. 31 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the foldable deviceaccording to another exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 31, thefirst body 110 includes a base cover 110-1 and a frame 110-2 that iscoupled to the base cover 110-1 and supports the first part 4 a of theflexible display device 140. The second body 120 includes a base cover120-1 and a frame 120-2 that is coupled to the base cover 120-1 andsupports the second part 4 b of the flexible display device 140. Forexample, the first part 4 a and the second part 4 b of the flexibledisplay device 140 may be attached to the frames 110-2 and 120-2 byusing an adhesive or a double-sided tape.

The hinge unit 130 of the present exemplary embodiment has a chainstructure. FIG. 32 is a perspective view illustrating the hinge unit 130according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 33 is an exploded perspectiveview illustrating a connection relationship between a plurality ofsegment members 310, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIGS. 34A and34B are side views respectively illustrating states where the hinge unit130 unfolds and folds, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 32 and 33, the hinge unit 130 includes the pluralityof segment members 310 that are arranged in the longitudinal direction Land a plurality of connection members 320 that sequentially pivotablyconnect the plurality of segment members 310. Two segment members 310 aand 310 b that are outermost segment members in the longitudinaldirection L from among the plurality of segment members 310 arerespectively connected to the first body 110 and the second body 120.Slots 132 (see FIG. 29) through which the guide member 150 passes areformed (e.g., provided or included) in the plurality of segment members310.

Each of the segment members 310 includes an upper end portion 311 and alower end portion 312. The upper end portion 311 and the lower endportion 312 are respectively inner and outer end portions of the segmentmember 310 in a direction in which the segment member 310 is bent. Onesegment member 310 includes a first side portion 313 and a second sideportion 314 that connect the upper end portion 311 and the lower endportion 312. The first side portion 313 faces the second side portion ofanother segment member 310 that is adjacent to the one segment member310. The upper end portions 311 of the plurality of segment members 310form a support surface 301 (see FIG. 29) that supports the third part 4c of the flexible display device 140. The third part 4 c of the flexibledisplay device 140 may be supported on the upper end portions 311 butmay not be attached to the upper end portions 311.

A structure for pivotably connecting the plurality of segment members310 will now be explained with reference to FIG. 33. A firstthrough-hole 315-1 and a second through-hole 316-1 that extend in thewidth direction W perpendicular to the folding/unfolding direction, thatis, the longitudinal direction L, and are spaced apart from each otherin the longitudinal direction L are provided in a segment member 310-1.A first through-hole 315-2 and a second through-hole 316-2 that extendin the width direction W and are spaced apart from each other in thelongitudinal direction L are provided in a segment member 310-2 that isadjacent to the segment member 310-1. The second through-hole 316-1 ofthe segment member 310-1 is aligned with the first through-hole 315-2 ofthe segment member 310-2. When one connection member 320 having a shaftshape that acts as a pivotal center is inserted into the secondthrough-hole 316-1 and the first through hole 315-2, the segment members310-1 and 310-2 may be connected to each other to pivot about theconnection member 320.

Lengths of the upper end portions 311 of the plurality of segmentmembers 310 are less than lengths of the lower end portions 312 of theplurality of segment members 310. Hence, when the foldable devicechanges to the folded state, the plurality of segment members 310 pivotso that the upper end portions 311 are closer to each other about theplurality of connection members 320. When the foldable device changes tothe unfolded state, the plurality of segment members 310 pivot so thatthe upper end portions 311 are farther from each other about theplurality of connection members 320.

The lower end portions 312 of the segment members 310-1 and 310-2 thatare adjacent to each other contact each other (marked by a dashed line)in the unfolded state of FIG. 34A. Accordingly, even when an externalforce F11 is applied in the unfolded state, the hinge unit 130 is notbent outward. When the hinge unit 130 is bent outward, a tensile forcemay be applied to the flexible display device 140 and thus the flexibledisplay device 140 may be separated from the first body 110 and thesecond body 120 or may be damaged. Such problems may be prevented byusing the hinge unit 130 of the present exemplary embodiment that is notbent outward.

In the folded state, the upper end portions 311 of the segment members310-1 and 310-2 that are adjacent to each other contact each other (seeFIG. 34B) or facing side portions of the segment members 310-1 and310-2, for example, the first side portion 313 of the segment member310-1 and the second side portion 314 of the segment member 310-2 thatis adjacent to the first side portion 313, contact each other.Accordingly, even when an external force F12 is applied in the foldedstate, the hinge unit 130 may not be bent inward in a state where thecurved portion 130 a is formed and the third part 4 c of the flexibledisplay device 140 may be protected from being sharply bent.

The hinge unit 130 may be slidably connected to the first body 110 andthe second body 120 as described above. Also, the guide member 150 maybe slidably connected to the first body 110 and the second body 120.FIG. 35 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a connectionrelationship between the hinge unit 130 and the guide member 150 and thefirst body 110 and the second body 120, according to an exemplaryembodiment. Although a connection relationship between the hinge unit130 and the guide member 150 and the first body 110 is shown in FIG. 35,a connection relationship between the hinge unit 130 and the guidemember 150 and the second body 120 is the same as the connectionrelationship between the hinge unit 130 and the guide member 150 and thefirst body 110. FIG. 36 is a cross-sectional view taken along lineX1-X1′ of FIG. 32, according to an exemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 32, 35, and 36, the first connection bracket 131-1and the second connection bracket 131-2 are respectively formed on oneend portion and the other end portion of the hinge unit 130 in thelongitudinal direction L. The first rail 131 a is provided on each ofthe first connection bracket 131-1 and the second connection bracket131-2. The second rail 113 that is slidably connected to the first rail131 a is provided on the first body 110 and the second body 120. Forexample, the first rail 131 a has an “L”-like cross-sectional shape andextends in the longitudinal direction L and the second rail 113 has a“⊂”-like cross-sectional shape and extends in the longitudinal directionL. In the present exemplary embodiment, the second rail 113 is formed of(e.g., includes) a material having a low friction coefficient such aspolyacetal resin or oil-impregnated plastic resin and is coupled to arail bracket 113 a. The rail bracket 113 a is coupled to the base cover110-1.

The third rail 151 is provided on the guide member 150, and the fourthrail 114 to which the third rail 151 is slidably coupled is provided onthe first body 110 and the second body 120. For example, the third rail151 has a “⊂”-like cross-sectional shape and extends in the longitudinaldirection L and the fourth rail 114 has an “L”-like cross-sectionalshape and extends in the longitudinal direction L. In the presentexemplary embodiment, the third rail 151 is formed of (e.g., includes) amaterial having a low friction coefficient such as polyacetal resin oroil-impregnated plastic resin and is coupled to a rail bracket 151 a,and the rail bracket 151 a is coupled to the guide member 150. Thefourth rail 114 may be formed on a rail bracket 114 a that is coupled tothe base cover 110-1.

In this configuration, the hinge unit 130 and the guide member 150 maybe slidably connected to the first body 110 and the second body 120.

A sliding amount control unit (e.g., controller) for maintainingconstant a ratio between the amount of sliding ΔL3 of the hinge unit 130and the amount of sliding ΔL2 of the guide member 150 will now beexplained. Referring to FIG. 35, a first lever 161 is provided on thehinge unit 130 and slides relative to the first body 110 and the secondbody 120 along with the hinge unit 130. For example, the first lever 161is pivotably connected to a shaft 161-1 that is provided on the firstconnection bracket 131-1. A first post 161-2 is provided on the otherend portion of the first lever 161. The first post 161-2 is insertedinto first slots 116 formed (e.g., included or provided) in the firstbody 110. For example, the first slots 116 may be formed by cutting therail brackets 113 a and 114 a.

FIG. 37 is a view for explaining an operation of the first lever 161when the foldable device folds at the unfolding angle θ, according to anexemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 37, the first post 161-2 and thefirst slots 116 operate as a pivoting unit for making the first lever161 pivot as the hinge unit 130 slides. When the foldable device folds,the hinge unit 130 moves by the sliding amount ΔL3 in the longitudinaldirection L relative to the first body 110, and the shaft 161-1 alsomoves by the sliding amount ΔL3 in the longitudinal direction L alongwith the hinge unit 130. Since the first post 161-2 is inserted into thefirst slots 116 formed in the first body 110, the first post 161-2 doesnot move in the longitudinal direction L and moves in the widthdirection W along the first slots 116. Accordingly, the first lever 161pivots about the shaft 161-1.

FIG. 38 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a connection relationshipbetween the first lever 161 and a second lever 162, according to anexemplary embodiment. Referring to FIGS. 35 and 38, the second lever 162is connected to the first lever 161. The second lever 162 is fixed tothe first lever 161. That is, the second lever 162 pivots along with thefirst lever 161, and does not pivot relative to the first lever 161. Forexample, one end portion of the second lever 162 is fixed to the firstpost 161-2. The second lever 162 pivots as the first lever 161 pivots. Asecond post 162-1 is provided on the other end portion of the secondlever 162. The second post 162-1 is inserted into a second slot 152formed in the guide member 150. For example, the second slot 152 may beformed by cutting the rail bracket 151 a to which the guide member 150is coupled.

FIGS. 39A and 39B are views for explaining an operation of the secondlever 162 when the hinge unit 130 slides, according to an exemplaryembodiment. FIGS. 39A and 39B respectively illustrate states of thefirst lever 161 and the second lever 162 when the foldable device is inthe unfolded state and states of the first lever 161 and the secondlever 162 when the foldable device is at the unfolding angle θ. When thefoldable device folds at the unfolding angle θ from the state of FIG.39A, the hinge unit 130 slides by the sliding amount ΔL3 in thelongitudinal direction L as described with reference to FIG. 37 and thefirst lever 161 pivots. In this case, the second lever 162 also pivotsalong with the first lever 161 and the second post 162-1 pushes thesecond slot 152 in the longitudinal direction L. Accordingly, the secondslot 152 moves by the sliding amount ΔL in the longitudinal direction L.As a result, the guide member 150 also slides by the sliding amount ΔL2in the longitudinal direction L.

Since the first lever 161 and the second lever 162 pivot by the sameangle β, the sliding amounts ΔL3 and ΔL2 depend on a length of a pivotarm. A length of a pivot arm of the first lever 161, that is, a distancebetween the shaft 161-1 and the first post 161-2, is RA1 and a length ofa pivot arm of the second lever 162, that is, a distance between thefirst post 161-2 and the second post 162-1, is RA2. Hence, in order tosatisfy Equation 2, the distances RA1 and RA2 are determined so thatΔL2/ΔL3=d12/d13=RA2/RA1. That is, a ratio between the length of thepivot arm of the first lever 161 and the length of the pivot arm of thesecond lever 162 is equal to a ratio between the distance d13 betweenthe flexible display device 140 and the hinge unit 130 and the distanced12 between the flexible display device 140 and the guide member 150.Specifically, the distance d12 is a distance between the neural surfaceNS1 of the flexible display device 140 and the neutral surface NS2 ofthe guide member 150, and the distance d13 is a distance between theneutral surface NS1 of the flexible display device 140 and the neutralsurface NS3 of the hinge unit 130. The neutral surface NS3 of the hingeunit 130 is a surface where there exist central axes of the plurality ofconnection members 320 about which the plurality of segment members 310pivot.

In this configuration, when the foldable device changes between thefolded position and the unfolded position, the distances d12, d23, andd13 may be maintained always constant. Accordingly, during afolding/unfolding process, a length of the flexible display device 140may not change, lengths of the first body 110 and the second body 120and the hinge unit 130 may naturally change to allow stablefolding/unfolding, and a stress applied to the flexible display device140 during the folding/unfolding process may be reduced due to the guidemember 150.

The foldable device may be locked at the unfolded position of FIG. 27 orthe folded position of FIG. 28. Also, the foldable device may be lockedin a state having the unfolding angle E between the unfolded state andthe folded state of the first body 110 and the second body 120 as shownin FIG. 40. The angle E in the folded state is 0° and the angle E in theunfolded state is about 180°. The foldable device of the presentexemplary embodiment includes a locking unit (e.g., lock) for lockingthe first body 110 and the second body 120 in the state having at leastone unfolding angle E. For example, the locking unit may be realized sothat the hinge unit 130 is stopped and maintained at a predeterminedposition when the hinge unit 130 slides relative to the first body 110and the second body 120. Referring to FIG. 35, a locking boss 171 isprovided on the connection bracket 131-1. A locking rail member 172 towhich the locking boss 171 is slidably connected is provided on thefirst body 110 and the second body 120. The locking rail member 172 isprovided on the rail bracket 113 a in the present exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 41 is a perspective view illustrating the locking rail member 172according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 41, a lockingrail 172-1 into which the locking boss 171 is inserted and slides isprovided on the locking rail member 172. The locking rail 172-1 is aslot into which the locking boss 171 is inserted to slide. The lockingrail 172-1 may include a first locking portion 172-1 a on which thelocking boss 171 is located in the unfolded state and a second lockingportion 172-1 b on which the locking boss 171 is located in the foldedstate. The first locking portion 172-1 a and the second locking portion172-1 b are connected to each other via a connection rail 172-1 c. Thefirst locking portion 172-1 a and the second locking portion 172-1 b areshaped to receive the locking boss 171. For example, the first lockingportion 172-1 a and the second locking portion 172-1 b may havecylindrical shapes having diameters similar to (slightly less or greaterthan) a diameter of the locking boss 171. The connection rail 172-1 c isshaped so that the locking boss 171 naturally slides along theconnection rail 172-1 c. For example, a width W1 of the connection rail172-1 c may be slightly greater than the diameter of the locking boss171 in order for the locking boss 171 to smoothly slide. Boundary rails172-1 d and 172-1 e for maintaining the locking boss 171 on the firstlocking portion 172-1 a and the second locking portion 172-1 b may beprovided between the first locking portion 172-1 a and the secondlocking portion 172-1 b and the connection rail 172-1 c. The boundaryrails 172-1 d and 172-1 e have widths W2 less than the diameter of thelocking boss 171. The locking rail member 172 or at least the lockingrail 172-1 is formed of (e.g., includes) an elastic material.

When the first body 110 and the second body 120 unfold to have theunfolding angle E of about 180°, the locking boss 171 is located on thefirst locking portion 172-1 a. The locking boss 171 is maintained on thefirst locking portion 171-1 a due to the boundary rail 172-1 d. That is,unless an external force having a predetermined magnitude or more formaking the first body 110 and the second body 120 fold is applied, sincethe locking boss 171 may not pass through the boundary rail 172-1 d, thelocking boss 171 is maintained on the first locking portion 171-1 a andis locked when the first body 110 and the second body 120 unfold.

When an external force is applied and thus the first body 110 and thesecond body 120 begin to fold, the hinge unit 130 slides relative to thefirst body 110 and the second body 120 and the locking boss 171 alsoslides. The locking boss 171 enters the boundary rail 172-1 d, theboundary rail 172-1 d is elastically widened, and the width W2 of theboundary rail 172-1 d is increased. Once the locking boss 171 passesthrough the boundary rail 172-1 d, the locking boss 171 enters theconnection rail 172-1 c. As the unfolding angle E of the first body 110and the second body 120 are gradually reduced, the locking boss 171enters the boundary rail 172-1 e. The boundary rail 172-1 e iselastically widened due to the locking boss 171 and the width W2 of theboundary rail 172-1 e is increased. Once the locking boss 171 passesthrough the boundary rail 172-1 e, the locking boss 171 enters thesecond locking portion 172-1 b. The first body 110 and the second body120 reach the folded state having the unfolding angle E of 0° and arelocked.

A process of making the first body 110 and the second body 120 changefrom the folded state to the unfolded state is performed in reverseorder. In this configuration, the first body 110 and the second body 120may be locked between the folded state and the unfolded state.

The locking unit may lock the first body 110 and the second body 120 atthe unfolding angle E between the folded state and the unfolded state.FIG. 42 is a perspective view illustrating the locking rail member 172according to another exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 42, a thirdlocking portion 172-1 f is provided between the first locking portion172-1 a and the connection rail 172-1 c. The third locking portion 172-1f is connected to the first locking portion 172-1 a via the boundaryrail 172-1 d and is connected to the connection rail 172-1 c via aboundary rail 172-1 g. For example, the third locking portion 172-1 fmay correspond to the unfolding angle E of about 120°. In thisconfiguration, the first body 110 and the second body 120 may be lockedin the unfolded state, the state having the unfolding angle E of about120°, and the folded state.

FIG. 43 is a plan view illustrating a connection relationship betweenthe guide member 150 and the hinge unit 130 and the first body 110 andthe second body 120, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 44A is aside view illustrating a connection relationship between a first guidemember 150-1 and the first body 110 and the second body 120 and thehinge unit 130, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 44B is a sideview illustrating a connection relationship between a second guidemember 150-2 and the first body 110 and the second body 120 and thehinge unit 130, according to an exemplary embodiment. Also, a connectionstructure between the hinge unit 130 and the first body 110 and thesecond body 120 of FIGS. 43, 44A, and 44B is the same as or similar tothat described above, and thus a redundant description is omitted below.

Referring to FIG. 43, the first body 110 and the second body 120 arefoldably connected to each other by the hinge unit 130. The hinge unit130 is connected to the first body 110 and the second body 120 to slidein the longitudinal direction L. A connection structure between thehinge unit 130 and the first body 110 and the second body 120 may be thesame as a connection structure of FIGS. 35 and 36. Also, the lockingunit of FIGS. 35, 41, and 42 may be used in order to lock the first body110 and the second body 120 at the unfolding angle E.

The guide member 150 includes the first guide member 150-1 and thesecond guide member 150-2. The first guide member 150-1 and the secondguide member 150-2 are spaced apart from each other in the widthdirection W. The first guide member 150-1 and the second guide member150-2 respectively include one end portions (first end portions) 150-1 aand 150-2 a and other end portions (second end portions) 150-1 b and150-2 b. The first end portions 150-1 a and 150-2 a and the second endportions 150-1 b and 150-2 b are located at both sides of the hinge unit130. That is, the first guide member 150-1 and the second guide member150-2 extend from the first body 110 across the hinge unit 130 to thesecond body 120. The first end portions 150-1 a and 150-2 a are locatedon the first body 110 and the second end portions 150-1 b and 150-2 bare located on the second body 120. The slots 132 (see FIG. 29) throughwhich the first guide member 150-1 and the second guide member 150-2pass are formed in the hinge unit 130.

As shown in FIG. 44A, the first end portion 150-1 a of the first guidemember 150-1 is connected to the first body 110 and the second endportion 150-1 b is connected to the hinge unit 130. The hinge unit 130includes a first connection portion 130-1 and a second connectionportion 130-2 that are respectively connected to the first body 110 andthe second body 120. The first end portion 150-1 a and the second endportion 150-1 b of the first guide member 150-1 are respectivelyconnected to the first body 110 and the hinge unit 130. For example, thefirst end portion 150-1 a may be connected to the frame 110-2 (see FIG.31), and the second end portion 150-1 b may be connected to the secondconnection portion 130-2 of the hinge unit 130, for example, the secondconnection bracket 131-2. Accordingly, the second end portion 150-1 bslides relative to the second body 120 along with the hinge unit 130.

As shown in FIG. 44B, the first end portion 150-2 a of the second guidemember 150-2 is connected to the hinge unit 130 and the second endportion 150-2 b is connected to the second body 120. The first endportion 150-2 a and the second end portion 150-2 b of the second guidemember 150-2 are respectively connected to the hinge unit 130 and thesecond body 120. For example, the first end portion 150-2 a may beconnected to the first connection portion 130-1 of the hinge unit 130,for example, the first connection bracket 131-1, and the second endportion 150-2 b may be connected to the frame 120-2 (see FIG. 31).Accordingly, the first end portion 150-2 a slides relative to the firstbody 110 along with the hinge unit 130.

FIG. 45 is a schematic view illustrating the amounts of the hinge unit130 and the first guide member 150-1 and the second guide member 150-2that slide when the first body 110 and the second body 120 in theunfolded state begin to fold to have the unfolding angle θ in theconnection structure of FIG. 43, according to an exemplary embodiment.In FIG. 45, NS1 is a neutral surface of the flexible display device 140,NS2 is a neutral surface of the first guide member 150-1 and the secondguide member 150-2, and NS3 is a neutral surface of the hinge unit 130.ΔL1, ΔL2-1, ΔL2-2, ΔL3-1, and ΔL3-2 are respectively the sliding amountof the flexible display device 140, the sliding amount of the firstguide member 150-1 and the second guide member 150-2, and the slidingamount of the hinge unit 130 relative to the first body 110 and thesecond body 120 until the first body 110 and the second body 120 in theunfolded state reach the state having the unfolding angle θ. d12, d23,and d13 respectively distances between the neutral surface NS1 and theneutral surface NS2, between the neutral surface NS2 and the neutralsurface NS3, and between the neutral surface NS1 and the neutral surfaceNS3.

Since a length of the flexible display device 140 does not change,

ΔL1=0,

ΔL2=ΔL2-1+ΔL2-2=d12×θ, and

ΔL3=ΔL3-1+ΔL3-2=d13×θ (where θ is in radians).

In order to not apply an excessive stress to the flexible display device140 during a folding/unfolding process, the distances d13 and d23 aremaintained constant even when the unfolding angle θ changes.

In order to maintain the first body 110 and the second body 120symmetric with each other about the hinge unit 130 during afolding/unfolding process, the sliding amount ΔL3-1 of the hinge unit130 relative to the first body 110 and the sliding amount ΔL3-2 of thehinge unit 130 relative to the second body 120 are equal to each other,the sliding amounts ΔL2-1 and ΔL2-2 of the first guide member 150-1 andthe second guide member 150-2 relative to the second and first bodies120 and 110 are equal to each other, and the sliding amounts ΔL2-1 andΔL2-2 are half the sliding amounts of sliding ΔL3-1 and ΔL3-2,respectively.

That is, the following is satisfied:

ΔL3-1=L3-2={d13×θ}/2,

ΔL2-1=L2-2={d12×θ}/2, and

ΔL2-1=L2-2=½ΔL3-1=½ΔL3-2  Equation 3.

Since d13=d12+d23  Equation 4,

when the distance d13 is removed by substituting Equation 4 intoEquation 3,

d12=d23  Equation 5.

That is, the distance d12 between the first guide member 150-1 and thesecond guide member 150-2 and the flexible display device 140 in thethickness direction T is equal to the distance d23 between the firstguide member 150-1 and the second guide member 150-2 and the hinge unit130 in the thickness direction T. Strictly, the distance d12 is adistance between the neutral surface NS1 of the flexible display device140 and the neutral surface NS2 of the first guide member 150-1 and thesecond guide member 150-2 and the distance d23 is a distance between theneutral surface NS2 of the first guide member 150-1 and the second guidemember 150-2 and the neutral surface NS3 of the hinge unit 130. Theneutral surface NS3 of the hinge unit 130 is a surface where there existcentral axes of the plurality of connection members 320 about which theplurality of segment members 310 pivot.

In this configuration, a stress applied to the flexible display device140 during a folding/unfolding process may be reduced due to the firstguide member 150-1 and the second guide member 150-2. Also, during afolding/unfolding process of the foldable device, the first body 110 andthe second body 120 synchronously move relative to the hinge unit 130and thus the first body 110 and the second body 120 may be maintainedsymmetric with each other about the hinge unit 130. That is, the firstguide member 150-1 and the second guide member 150-2 operate as amovement limiting unit (e.g., movement limiter) for maintaining thefirst body 110 and the second body 120 symmetric with each other aboutthe hinge unit 130 by limiting the moving amounts of the first body 110and the second body 120 relative to the hinge unit 130 during afolding/unfolding process. Accordingly, since the flexile display device140 is not excessively pulled or pushed to one side during afolding/unfolding process, natural folding/unfolding may be achieved anda stress applied to the flexible display device 140 may be reduced.

When the first body 110 and the second body 120 do not synchronouslymove relative to the hinge unit 130, a movement of the first body 110relative to the hinge unit 130 is completed and then a movement of thesecond body 120 relative to the hinge unit 130 may occur during afolding/unfolding process. Then, an excessive tensile force orcompressive force may be applied to the flexible display device 140.Also, since a length L3 (see FIG. 40) between a center 3 b of the hingeunit 130 and an end portion of the first body 110 and a length L4 (seeFIG. 40) between the center 3 b of the hinge unit 130 and an end portionof the second body 120 at the unfolding angle E between the folded stateand the unfolded state may be different from each other, the foldabledevice may be asymmetric, and thus the third part 4 c of the flexibledisplay device 140 may come off from the support surface 301 that isformed by the hinge unit 130 to have the curved shape 4 f of FIG. 40,thereby reducing the beauty of an outer appearance of the foldabledevice. Also, when the third part 4 c of the flexible display device 140repeatedly comes off to have the curved shape 4 f during afolding/unfolding process, the third part 4 c may be permanentlydeformed. Such a tensile force and such a compressive force may bereduced due to synchronous relative movements of the first body 110 andthe second body 120 and the hinge unit 130 and may be further reduceddue to the first guide member 150-1 and the second guide member 150-2.

According to exemplary embodiments of the foldable device, a flexibledisplay device may be stably supported to not be bent during afolding/unfolding process. Since a guide member that elastically bendsis disposed between the flexible display device and a hinge unit, astress applied to the flexible display device during thefolding/unfolding process may be reduced. Since a first body and asecond body and the hinge unit move in a symmetric manner, a stressapplied to the flexible display device during the folding/unfoldingprocess may be reduced and an outer appearance of the foldable devicemay be improved.

Third Exemplary Embodiment

A mobile terminal device (foldable device) of the present exemplaryembodiment improves portability by distributing various electronic partsthat are hardly bent on portions corresponding to one side portion andthe other side portion of a flexible display device that defines a frontsurface and disposing a flexible hinge between the portions. The mobileterminal device of the present exemplary embodiment supports theflexible display device so that the flexible display device ismaintained in a state having a predetermined curvature during a foldingprocess. The mobile terminal device of the present exemplary embodimentmay be firmly maintained in a folded state and an unfolded state,thereby allowing a user to stably input a touch.

A third exemplary embodiment of the foldable device will now beexplained.

FIG. 46 is a perspective view illustrating a front surface of a mobileterminal device 1000 according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 47 is aperspective view illustrating a rear surface of the mobile terminaldevice 1000 according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 48 is an explodedperspective view illustrating the mobile terminal device 1000 accordingto an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 49 is a cross-sectional viewillustrating a flexible display device 1040 of FIG. 48, according to anexemplary embodiment. FIG. 50 is a cross-sectional view taken along lineV-V of the mobile terminal device 1000 of FIG. 46, according to anexemplary embodiment.

Referring to FIGS. 46 through 50, the mobile terminal device 1000includes the flexible display device 1040, a first support 530, a secondsupport 540, a first cover 510, a second cover 520, a flexible hinge(e.g., hinge unit) 700, and a communication module 900 (e.g.,communication terminal or communicator).

A structure of the mobile terminal device 1000 constructed as describedabove will be explained below and then elements will be sequentiallyexplained in detail.

The flexible display device 1040 has a degree of freedom high enough tobe bent to a predetermined curvature. In the present exemplaryembodiment, when the first part 4 a that is one portion of the flexibledisplay device 1040 and the second part 4 b that is the other portion ofthe flexible display device 1040 face each other, the third part 4 cformed between the first part 4 a and the second part 4 b is bent. Inthis case, since the first part 4 a and the second part 4 b of theflexible display device 1040 are supported by the first support 530 andthe second support 540 each formed of (e.g., including) a hard material,even when a user touches a front surface of the flexible display device1040, the flexible display device 1040 may not be pushed backward and atouch may be stably input.

The first cover 510 and the second cover 520 to which the first support530 and the second support 540 are respectively coupled are connected toeach other via the flexible hinge 700. In this case, referring to FIG.47, the first cover 510 and the second cover 520 and the flexible hinge700 form the rear surface of the mobile terminal device 1000. That is,the first cover 510, the second cover 520, and the flexible hinge 700are integrated to form a single cover unit.

A charged battery 200 (see FIG. 50) and a main printed circuit board(PCB) 210 (see FIG. 50) are disposed between the first cover 510 and thesecond cover 520 and the first support 530 and the second support 540.In this case, a central processing unit (CPU) and the communicationmodule 900 may be mounted on the main PCB 210 and the communicationmodule 900 is electrically connected to an antenna.

When the mobile terminal device 1000 folds in half, the flexible hinge700 may be bent so that the third part 4 c of the flexible displaydevice 1040 has a predetermined curvature. In this case, thepredetermined curvature of the third part 4 c may be small enough to notphysically damage the flexible display device 1040.

A structure of the mobile terminal device 1000 will now be explained indetail.

Referring to FIG. 49, the flexible display device 1040 is formed bysequentially stacking the transparent protective panel 43 (hereinafter,referred to as a cover window 43), the touch panel 42, and the flexibledisplay panel 41 from the front to the back.

The cover window 43 is a plastic or film cover window. Portions(specifically, outer portions) of the cover window 43 corresponding tothe first part 4 a and the second part 4 b of FIG. 48 are supported bythe first support 530 and the second support 540. In this case, theouter portions of the cover window 43 may not be fixed (or attached) totop surfaces 531 and 541 of the first support 530 and the second support540, or may be fixed (or attached) to the top surfaces 531 and 541 ofthe first support 530 and the second support 540 to slightly moverelative to the first support 530 and the second support 540. This isbecause when the mobile terminal device 100 folds and the third part 4 cof the flexible display device 1040 is bent, a degree of freedom isgained so that the cover window 43 relatively moves as the first support530 and the second support 540 move, thereby solving the problem thatthe cover window 43 fails to absorb movements of the first support 530and the second support 540 and is damaged. The cover window 43 may havea pattern formed of a soft metal mesh, silver nanowires (AgNW), orgraphene.

The touch panel 42 is attached to a rear surface of the cover window 43by using an optically-clear adhesive (OCA) 44-1. The touch panel 42detects a user's touch gesture and transmits a touch input signal to themain PCB 210. Also, a first flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) 42-1on which a driving integrated circuit (IC) for driving the touch panel42 is mounted is electrically connected to one side of the touch panel42. In this case, the first FPCB 42-1 is electrically connected to asecond FPCB 42-1 of the flexible display panel 41 through a firstconnector 42-3. Here, the first connector 42-3 may be directly connectedto the main PCB 210 (see FIG. 50) that is disposed on a rear surface ofthe first support 530. To this end, the first FPCB 42-1 may have alength greater than that in FIG. 49 so that the first connector 42-3 maypass through a through-hole 532 (FIG. 48) of the first support 530 to beelectrically connected to the main PCB 210.

The flexible display panel 41 is attached to the rear surface of thecover window 43, or a rear surface of the touch panel 42 if any, byusing an OCA 44-3. The flexible display panel 41 may be an active matrixorganic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) panel or a flexible OLED panel.The second FPCB 42-1 on which a driving IC for driving the flexibledisplay panel 41 is mounted is electrically connected to one side of theflexible display panel 41. In this case, a second connector 41-3 may beprovided on one end of the second FPCB 41-1, and may pass through thethrough-hole 532 (FIG. 48) of the first support 530 to be electricallyconnected to the main PCB 210 (see FIG. 50) that is disposed on the rearsurface of the first support 530. Here, the second FPCB 42-1 may have alength enough to allow the mobile terminal device 1000 to fold/unfold.Although the flexible display panel 41 is disposed on the rear surfaceof the touch panel 42 in the present exemplary embodiment, it isunderstood that one or more other exemplary embodiments are not limitedthereto and the flexible display panel 41 may be stacked on a frontsurface of the touch panel 42.

The flexible display panel 41 is attached to front surfaces of the firstsupport 530 and the second support 540 by using adhesive members 44-4and 44-5 that are respectively attached to one side portion and theother side portion of a rear surface of the flexible display panel 41.In this case, the adhesive members 44-4 and 44-5 may be double-sidedadhesive tapes thin enough for the mobile terminal device 1000 to have alow thickness or double-sided adhesive tapes having predeterminedcushioning properties.

As such, portions of the flexible display panel 41 corresponding to thefirst part 4 a and the second part 4 b other than a portioncorresponding to the third part 4 c of FIG. 48 are respectively fixed tothe first support 530 and the second support 540. Accordingly, when themobile terminal device 100 folds and the third part 4 c of the flexibledisplay device 1040 is bent, the flexible display device 1040 is notaffected by the adhesive members 44-4 and 44-5, thereby allowing themobile terminal device 1000 to smoothly fold.

Referring to FIGS. 48 and 50, the first support 530 and the secondsupport 540 are formed of (e.g., include) a hard material and includeplanar front surfaces in order to stably support the flexible displaydevice 1040.

A plurality of coupling grooves K1 that are arranged at intervals alongouter ends of the first support 530 and the second support 540 areformed in the first support 530 and the second support 540. A pluralityof coupling protrusions K2 that protrude at intervals along inner endsof the first cover 510 and the second cover 520 are snap-fitted to theplurality of coupling grooves K1. Accordingly, the first support 530 andthe second support 540 may be respectively detachably coupled to thefirst cover 510 and the second cover 520. Accordingly, the chargedbattery 200, a memory, and a subscriber identity module (SIM) card maybe inserted/taken into/from first and second spaces S1 and S2 byrespectively separating the first cover 510 and the second cover 520from the first support 530 and the second support 540.

The first space S1 is formed as the first support 530 is coupled to thefirst cover 510 and the rear surface of the first support 530 that facesa front surface of the first cover 510 is spaced from the front surfaceof the first cover 510. The main PCB 210 may be disposed in the firstspace S1, and various electronic parts such as a rear camera module 220(e.g., rear camera) (see FIG. 47), a proximity sensor 231, anillumination sensor 233, a front camera module 235 (e.g., front camera),and a speaker may be disposed in the first space S1 (see FIG. 46).

In this case, the proximity sensor 231, the illumination sensor 233, andthe front camera module 235 are disposed to face the front of the coverwindow 43 through a first through-groove 533 (FIG. 48) formed in thefirst support 530 and the rear camera module 220 is disposed to face theback of the first cover 510 through a through-hole 516 (see FIG. 47) ofthe first cover 510.

The second space S2 is formed as the second support 540 is coupled tothe second cover 520 and a rear surface of the second support 540 thatfaces a front surface of the second cover 520 is spaced apart from thefront surface of the second cover. The charged battery 200 (see FIG. 50)and a tiny microphone 230 (see FIG. 48) may be disposed in the secondspace S2. In this case, a microphone hole 236 (FIG. 48) is formed in thesecond cover 520 so that a sound such as voice is input to the tinymicrophone 230.

Also, a plurality of concave grooves 543 and 544 on which a plurality ofsoft keys 241 and 242 for transmitting a touch input signal to a CPU aredisposed in order to control the flexible display panel 41 are formed inan outer portion of the front surface of the second support 540. Theplurality of soft keys 241 and 242 that are touch sensors are protectedby the cover window 43.

A second through-groove 535 and a third through-groove 545 through whicha third FPCB 800 (see FIG. 55) passes are respectively formed in facingend portions of the first support 530 and the second support 540. Inthis case, the third FPCB 800 may electrically connect the chargedbattery 200, the tiny microphone 230, and the plurality of soft keys 241and 242 disposed in the second space S2 to the main PCB 210 disposed inthe first space S1.

Also, the adhesive members 44-4 and 44-5 are attached to the firstsupport 530 and the second support 540 so that the back of the flexibledisplay device 1040 is fixed to concave grooves 537 and 547 that arerespectively formed in the front surfaces of the first support 530 andthe second support 540. In addition, the back of the flexible displaydevice 1040 is received in the concave grooves 537 and 547, therebypreventing a thickness of the mobile terminal device 1000 from beingincreased.

The first cover 510 and the second cover 520 are each formed of (e.g.,include) a hard material, and are connected to each other by using theflexible hinge 700.

Referring to FIG. 48, one pair of packings 511 and 512 for supportingthe first support 530 are disposed at both corners of a front endportion of the first cover 510. Also, a first control button 513 and asecond control button 514 are disposed along one side end of the firstcover 510 and a third control button 515 (see FIG. 47) is disposed onthe other side end that is opposite to the one side end. The firstthrough third control buttons 513, 514, and 515 may be set to turnon/off a screen of the flexible display device 1040, to control abrightness of the screen, to control a volume of the speaker, etc. Also,the first through third control buttons 513, 514, and 515 may be set towork with various applications of the memory provided in the mobileterminal device 1000.

One pair of second packings 521 and 522 for supporting the secondsupport 540 are disposed at both corners of a front end portion of thesecond cover 520, like in the first cover 510. Also, an insertion hole523 into which an earphone jack is inserted may be formed in one sideend of the second cover 520 and a plurality of antennas may be disposedon an inner surface of the second cover 520. In this case, examples ofthe antennas that are for wireless communications may includelong-distance antennas that may communicate with other terminals throughbase stations or access points (APs), and short-distance antenna such asWi-Fi antennas, near field communication (NFC) antennas, etc.

Referring to FIG. 46, a first locking portion 610 and a second lockingportion 620 that are coupled to each other when the mobile terminaldevice 1000 is closed are respectively disposed on the front endportions of the first cover 510 and the second cover 520. For example,the first locking portion 610 and the second locking portion 620 may becoupled to each other due to a magnetic force.

FIG. 51 is an enlarged view illustrating the first locking portion 610in a portion VI of FIG. 46, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG.52 is an enlarged view illustrating the second locking portion 620 in aportion VII of FIG. 46, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 53 isan enlarged view illustrating a state where the first locking portion610 and the second locking portion 620 of FIG. 46 are coupled to eachother due to a magnetic force, according to an exemplary embodiment.

The first locking portion 610 may include a first magnet 611 and asecond magnet 612 that are disposed on the left of a front end portion510 a of the first cover 510, and a third magnet 613 and a fourth magnet614 that are disposed on the right of the front end portion 510 a of thefirst cover 510. Referring to FIG. 51, the first magnet 611 is formed(e.g., provided) to project from the front end portion 510 a of thefirst cover 510. The second magnet 612 is recessed to be exposed throughan insertion hole 510 b formed in the front end portion 510 a of thefirst cover 510. In this case, the second magnet 612 is concavelyformed, unlike the first magnet 611. Also, the third magnet 613 that isdisposed on the right of the front end portion 510 a of the first cover510 is formed in the same manner as that of the first magnet 611 and thefourth magnet 614 is formed in the same manner as that of the secondmagnet 612.

The second locking portion 620 may include a fifth magnet 621 and asixth magnet 622 that are disposed on the left of a front end portion520 a of the second cover 520, and a seventh magnet 623 and an eighthmagnet 624 that are disposed on the right of the front end portion 520 aof the second cover 520. Referring to FIG. 52, the fifth magnet 621 isrecessed to be exposed through an insertion hole 520 b formed in thefront end portion 520 a of the second cover 520. In this case, the fifthmagnet 621 is concavely formed. The sixth magnet 622 is formed toproject from the front end portion 520 a of the second cover 520, unlikethe fifth magnet 621. Also, the seventh magnet 623 that is disposed onthe right of the front end portion 520 a of the second cover 520 isformed in the same manner as that of the fifth magnet 621 and the eighthmagnet 624 is formed in the same manner as that of the sixth magnet 622.

As the mobile terminal device 100 folds and the first locking portion610 and the second locking portion 620 approach each other, the firstlocking portion 610 and the second locking portion 620 are attached toeach other due to a magnetic attractive force that is applied betweenthe first through fourth magnets 611 through 614 of the first lockingportion 610 and the fifth through eighth magnets 621 through 624 of thesecond locking portion 620.

For example, as shown in FIG. 53, as the first magnet 611 that is convexis attached to the fifth magnet 621 that is concave, the first magnet611 and the fifth magnet 621 are coupled to each other due to not only amagnetic force but also a convex-concave (uneven) joint structure.

Although each of the first locking portion 610 and the second lockingportion 620 includes a plurality of magnets in the present exemplaryembodiment, it is understood that one or more other exemplaryembodiments are not limited thereto and each of the first lockingportion 610 and the second locking portion 620 may include at least onemagnet.

FIG. 54 is a perspective view illustrating the flexible hinge 700 ofFIG. 48, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 55 is an enlargedview illustrating a part of the flexible hinge 700 in a portion X ofFIG. 50, according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 56 is a side viewillustrating a state where the mobile terminal device 1000 folds,according to an exemplary embodiment. FIG. 57 is an enlargedcross-sectional view illustrating a state where the flexible hinge 700in a portion XII of FIG. 56 is bent, according to an exemplaryembodiment. A configuration of the flexible hinge 700 will now beexplained in detail with reference to FIGS. 54 through 57.

Referring to FIG. 54, an outer portion 710 and an inner portion 730 ofthe flexible hinge 700 may be formed by using double-shot injectionmolding.

The outer portion 710 may be formed of (e.g., include) a soft material(e.g., soft plastic or polymer). The outer portion 710 may have astiffness enough to be naturally bent when the mobile terminal device1000 folds as shown in FIG. 56 and enough to allow the mobile terminaldevice 1000 to be maintained straight in a longitudinal direction whenthe mobile terminal device 1000 does not fold as shown in FIG. 50.

The inner portion 730 is integrally formed with an inner peripheralsurface of the outer portion 710, and is formed of a hard material(e.g., hard plastic). The inner portion 730 includes a plurality ofreinforcing members, that is, first through third reinforcing members731, 732, and 733 that are arranged at predetermined intervals in afolding/unfolding direction of the flexible display device 1040 of FIG.56.

Each of the first reinforcing member 731 and the second reinforcingmember 732 that are disposed on a front end portion and a rear endportion of the outer portion 710 from among the first through thirdreinforcing members 731, 732, and 733 is formed to have a width W1greater than a width W2 of each of the third reinforcing members 733 inconsideration of coupling with the first cover 510 and the second cover520.

Referring to FIG. 55, front end portions of the first through thirdreinforcing members 731, 732, and 733 support a rear surface of thethird part 4 c (see FIG. 48) of the flexible display device 1040. Inaddition, rear end portions of the third reinforcing members 733 arefixedly inserted into a plurality of slits 710 a that are formed in theinner peripheral surface of the outer portion 710. Also, receivinggrooves 731 a, 732 a, and 733 a in which the third FPCB 800 is mountedare formed in the first through third reinforcing members 731, 732, and733. In this case, the third FPCB 800 is disposed under the flexibledisplay device 1040.

In addition, a strain gauge sensor 810 may be disposed in the receivinggrooves 731 a, 732 a, and 733 a of the first through third reinforcingmembers 731, 732, and 733. The strain gauge sensor 810 may be connectedto the main PCB 210 through a signal line, and may detect the variationof the length of the flexible hinge 700 as the mobile terminal device1000 folds and may cause the CPU to control the screen of the flexibledisplay device 1040. That is, when the length of the flexible hinge 700is reduced as the mobile terminal device 1000 folds, the strain gaugesensor 810 may transmit a first signal for turning off the screen of theflexible display device 1040 to the CPU, and when the length of theflexible hinge 700 is increased as the mobile terminal device 1000unfolds, the strain gauge sensor 810 may transmit a second signal forturning on the screen of the flexible display device 1040 to the CPU.

When the mobile terminal device 1000 folds and the first locking portion610 and the second locking portion 620 are coupled to each other asshown in FIG. 56, front end portions of adjacent reinforcing members ofthe first through third reinforcing members 731, 732, and 733 contacteach other as shown in FIG. 57. Accordingly, the outer portion 710 isbent to a predetermined curvature. The front end portions of the firstand second reinforcing members 731 and 732 may contact the front endportions of the third reinforcing members 733.

As the front end portions of the first through third reinforcing members731, 732, and 733 contact one another, the outer portion 710 is bent toa predetermined curvature. In this case, a curvature of the flexiblehinge 700 may be adjusted according to the number of the first throughthird reinforcing members 731, 732, and 733 and an interval between thefirst through third reinforcing members 731, 732, and 733.

The curvature of the flexible hinge 700 may be set in consideration of adesirable amount of bending of the flexible display device 1040. Thedesirable amount of bending of the flexible display device 1040 isdetermined so that when the flexible display device 1040 folds, theflexible display device 1040 is not physically damaged and when themobile terminal device 1000 unfolds (see FIG. 51), the third part 4 c isspread flat.

Accordingly, when the mobile terminal device 100 folds, a rear surfaceof the flexible display device 1040 is stably supported by the firstthrough third reinforcing members 731, 732, and 733 of the flexiblehinge 700 as shown in FIG. 57.

The communication module 900 may include an electronic device (see FIG.50) such as an LED modem chip that may communicate with other terminalsthrough base stations or APs and may be mounted on the main PCB 210.Also, chips for establishing communication such as Wi-Fi, NFC,Bluetooth, etc., may be provided on the main PCB 210.

Although the present exemplary embodiment is described with reference tothe mobile terminal device 1000, when the communication module 900 isomitted, the present exemplary embodiment may be applied to a displaydevice for multimedia.

As described above, since the charged battery 200, the main PCB 210, andvarious electronic parts are hardly bent relative to the flexibledisplay device 1040 that forms a front surface are distributablyarranged on a positions corresponding to the first part 4 a and thesecond part 4 b that are one side portion and the other side portion ofthe flexible display device 1040 and the flexible hinge 700 is foldablydisposed on position corresponding to the part 4 c that is bendablydisposed between the first part 4 a and the second part 4 b, portabilitymay be improved and a large screen may be used when the mobile terminaldevice 1000 unfolds.

Also, since the flexible display device 1040 is supported by the firstsupport 530 and the second support 540 and the inner portion 730 of theflexible hinge 700 each of which is formed of a hard material, a user'stouch (for example, flipping, dragging, or typing) may be stably inputby making the mobile terminal device 1000 unfold.

While one or more exemplary embodiments have been described above withreference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinaryskill in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope as defined by thefollowing claims. Accordingly, the true technical scope of the inventiveconcept is defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A foldable device, comprising: a flexible displaycomprising a first part, a second part, and a third part disposedbetween the first part and the second part; a first body configured tosupport the first part; a second body configured to support the secondpart and rotate by being synchronized with the first body; a hinge unitconfigured to connect the first body and the second body to be rotatablebased on a first center axis and a second center axis, respectively; asupporting member configured to be disposed between the first body andthe second body and support the third part based on the flexible displaybeing unfolded; a first pivot lever and a second pivot lever configuredto connect the supporting member; and wherein the first pivot lever andthe second pivot lever are configured to pivot from the supportingmember while rotating for the first body and the second body to befolded so that form a space for receiving a curved portion of the thirdpart.
 2. The foldable device of claim 1, wherein the first bodycomprises a first gear, and wherein the second body comprises a secondgear configured to engage with the first gear.
 3. The foldable device ofclaim 1, further comprising: a first receiver and a second receiverwhich are connected with the first pivot lever and the second pivotlever respectively, wherein the first receiver and the second receiverare configured to be pivoted by the first pivot lever and the secondpivot lever while rotating for the first body and the second body to befolded, and support the third part.
 4. The foldable device of claim 1,wherein the supporting member comprises a slot formed in a horizontaldirection toward the first body and the second body, and wherein thefirst body and the second body are disposed at one end facing each otherand comprise a pair of guide portions configured to be slidinglyinserted to the slot.
 5. The foldable device of claim 4, wherein thesupporting member is configured to move in one direction or anotherdirection by the sliding of the pair of guide portions according torotation of the first body and the second body.
 6. The foldable deviceof claim 4, wherein the first body and the second body comprise a firstbase cover and a second base cover, and a first frame and a second frameconfigured to be disposed inside of the first base cover and the secondbase cover and support the flexible display, wherein the pair of guideportions are disposed at one end of the first frame and the second framefacing each other.
 7. The foldable device of claim 6, wherein the oneend of the first frame and the second frame are formed to bend towardthe flexible display in a state of the flexible display being unfolded.8. The foldable device of claim 4, wherein the supporting member furthercomprises an insertion groove configured to be formed at a centerportion of the slot and for the pair of guide portions to be inserted.9. The foldable device of claim 1, wherein the supporting member isconfigured to evenly support the third part in a state of the flexibledevice being unfolded, and form a receiving space receiving the thirdpart with the first pivot lever and the second pivot lever in a state ofthe flexible display being folded.
 10. The foldable device of claim 1,wherein the first body and the second body further comprise a stopperconfigured to support the first pivot lever and the second pivot lever,and wherein the first pivot lever and the second pivot lever aresupported by the stopper based on the flexible display being unfolded sothat the third part is evenly unfolded.
 11. The foldable device of claim1, wherein the supporting member is configured to support the third partwhen the flexible display is folded.